CITIES

Oh cities are a fever in my blood,
And all their moods find logement in my breast,
Whether they sweep me onward like a flood
Or torture me as an unwanted guest,
With wormwood flavoring my scanty foods,
I love all cities, I love their changing moods.

I love all cities, I love their foreign ways,
Their tyranny over the life of man,
Their wakeful nights and never-resting days,
Their mighty movements seeming without plan,
Their pavement stones on which the broken fall,
Their damning wickedness: I love it all.

CITIES

BARCELONA

I

In Barcelona now they're dancing nights
Along the streets, the folk erecting stands
Upon the popular pavements, get together
From pueblo, barrio, in families.
Lured by the lilting playing of the bands,
Rejoicing in the balmy summer weather,
In spreading rings they weave fine fantasies,
Under the stars and the electric lights.

Before Apollo, Reina, Africana,
The royal proletarian cabarets,
From barracks soldiers, sailors from the ships,
With workers join and block the traffic's ways-
Ripe laughter ringing from intriguing lips-
To execute the wonderful Sardana.

2

Oh Barcelona, queen of Europe's cities,
From dulcet thoughts o you my guts are twisted
With bitter pain of longing for your sights.
And for your hills, your picturesque glory singing,
My feet are mutinous, mine eyes are misted.
Upon my precious thoughts your harbor lights
Are pendant like rare bells of music ringing
The sweet cadenzas of flamenco ditties.

I see your movement like a warm fandango,

(continued)

BARCELONA

Reeling my senses, drunk upon the hues
Of motion, the eternal rainbow wheel,
Your passion smouldering like a lighted fuse;
But more than all sensations do I feel
Your color in the sunlight like a mango.

3

Oh city dearly loved from every range!
Whether relaxed upon your natural towers-
Your liquid carpet spreading to their feet,
With patterns undulate between the bars-
Watching, until the tender twilight hours,
Its motion cradling soft a golden fleet:
Or coming down from underneath the stars,
DOWN--to your bottoms sinister and strange!

The nights eccentric of the Barrio Chino,
The creatures of the shadows of the walls,
Gray like the savage caricatures of Goya,
The chulos of the abysmal dancing halls,
And, in the garish lights of La Criolla,
The feminie flamenco of El Nino.

BARCELONA

I

2

(continued)

BARCELONA

3

Oh city dearly loved from every range!
Whether relaxed upon your natural towers-
Your liquid carpet spreading to their feet,
With patterns undulate between the bars-
Watching, until the tender twilight hours,
Its motion cradling soft a golden fleet;
Or coming down from underneath the stars,
DOWN--to your bottoms sinister and strange!

BARCELONA

1

In Barcelona now they're dancing nights
Along the streets, the folk erecting stands
Upon the popular pavements, get together
From pueblo, barrio, in families.
Lured by the lilting playing of the bands,
Rejoicing in the balmy summer weather,
In spreading rings they weave fine fantasies,
Under the starry and electric lights.

2

Oh Barcelona, queen of Europe's cities,
From dulcet thoughts of you my guts are twisted
With bitter pain of longing for your sights.
And for your hills, your picturesque glory singing,
My feet are mutinous, mine eyes are misted.
Upon my precious thoughts your harbor lights
Are pendant like rare bells of music ringing
The sweet cadenzas of flamenco ditties.

I see your movement like a warm fandango,
Reeling my senses, drunk upon the hues
Of motion the eternal rainbow wheel,
Your passion smouldering like a lighted fuse;
But more than all sensations do I feel
Your color in the sunlight like a mango.

3

Oh city dearly loved from every range.
Whether relaxed upon your natural towers-
Your liquid carpet spreading to their feet,
With patterns undulate between the bars-
Watching, until the tender twilight hours,
Its motion cradling soft a golden fleet:
Or coming down from underneath the stars,
DOWN-- to your bottoms sinister and strange.

The nights eccentric of the Barrio Chino,
The creatures of the shadows of the walls,
Gray like the savage caricatures of Goya,
The chulos of the abysmal dancing halls,
And, in the garish lights of La Criolla,
The feminine flamenco of El Niño.

I see your movement like a warm fandango,
Reeling my senses, drunk upon the hues
Of motion, the eternal rainbow wheel,
Your passion smouldering like a lighted fuse;
But more than all sensations do I feel
Your color in the sunlight like a mango.

Oh city dearly loved from every range!
Whether on your natural towers,
Your liquid carpet spreading to their feet,
With patterns undulate between the bars,
Watching, until the tender twilight hours,
Its motion cradling soft a golden fleet:
Or coming down from underneath the stars,
DOWN-- to your bottoms sinister and strange:
The nights eccentric of the Barrio Chino,
The creatures of the shadows of the walls,
Gray like the savage caricatures of Goya,
The chulos of the abysmal dancing halls,
And, in the garish lights of La Criolla,
The feminine flamenco of El Niño.

BARCELONA

1

In Barcelona town they dance the nights
Along the streets. The folk erecting stands
Upon the people's pavements come together
From pueblo, barrio, in families,
Lured by the lilting playing of the bands,
Rejoicing in the balmy summer weather,
In spreading rings they weave fine fantasies
Like rare mosaics of many-colored lights.

Kindled, it glows, the magical Sardana,
And sweeps the city in a glorious blaze.
The garrison, the sailors from the ships,
The workers' join and block the city's ways.
Ripe laughter ringing from intriguing lips
Crescending like a wonderful hosanna.

2

Oh city dearly loved from every range!
Whether I stand upon your natural towers,
With your blue carpet spreading at their feet,
Its patterns undulate between the bars,
Watching until the tender twilight hours
Its motion cradling soft a silver fleet;
Or coming down from underneath the stars,
DOWN--to your bottoms sinister and strange:

BARCELONA

The nights eccentric of the Barrio Chino,
The creatures of the shadows of the walls,
Gray like the savage caricatures of Goya,
The chulos of the abysmal dancing halls,
And in the garish lights of La Criolla
The feminine flamenco of El Nino.

3

Oh Barcelona, queen of Europe's cities,
From dulcet thoughts of you my guts are twisted
With bitter pain of longing for your sights,
And for your hills, your picturesque glory singing,
My feet are mutinous, mine eyes are misted.
Upon my happy thoughts your harbor lights
Are shimmering like bells melodious ringing
With sweet cadenzas of flamenco ditties.

I see your movement flashing like a knife,
Reeling my senses, drunk upon the hues
Of motion, the eternal rainbow wheel,
Your passion smouldering like a lighted fuse,
But more than all sensations do I feel
Your flaming color in the dance of life.

BARCELONA

I

In Barcelona town they dance the nights
Along the streets. The folk erecting stands
Upon the people's pavements come together
From pueblo, barrio, in families,
Lured by the lilting playing of the bands,
Rejoicing in the balmy summer weather,
In spreading rings they weave fine fantasies
Like rare mosaics of many many-colored lights.

Kindled, it glows, the magical Sardana,
And sweeps the city in a glorious blaze:
The garrison, the sailors from the ships,
The workers join and block the city's ways,
Ripe laughter ringing from intriguing lips,
Crescending like a wonderful hosanna.

II

Oh city, dearly loved from every range!
Whether I stand upon your natural towers,
With your blue carpet spreading at their feet,
Its patterns undulate between the bars,
Watching until the tender twilight hours
Its motion cradling soft a silver fleet;
Or coming down from underneath the stars,
DOWN--to your bottoms sinister and strange:

The nights eccentric of the Barrio Chino
The creatures of the shadows of the walls,
Gray like the savage caricatures of Goya,
The chulos of the abysmal dancing halls,
And in the garish lights of La Criolla,
The feminine flamenco of El Nino.

### III

Oh Barcelona, queen of Europe's cities,
From dulcet thoughts of you my guts are twisted
With bitter pain of longing for your sights,
And for your hills, your picturesque glory singing,
My feet are mutinous, mine eyes are misted.
Upon my Musing mind your harbor lights
Are shimmering like bells melodious ringing
With sweet cadenzas of flamenco ditties.

I see your movement flashing like a knife,
Reeling my senses, drunk upon the hues
Of motion, the eternal rainbow wheel,
Your passion smouldering like a lighted fuse,
But more than all sensations, oh I feel
Your color flaming in the dance of life!

Barcelona p. 1

BARCELONA

I

In Barcelona town they dance the nights
Along the streets. The folk, erecting stands
Upon the people's pavements, come together
From puebb, barrio, in families,
Lured by the lilting playing of the bands,
Rejoicing in the balmy summer weather,
In spreading rings they weave fine fantasies
Like rare mosaics of many-colored lights.

Kindled, it glows, the magical Sardana,
And sweeps the city in a glorious blaze.
The garrison, the sailors from the ships,
The workers join and block the city's ways,
Ripe laughter ringing from intriguing lips,
Crescending like a wonderful hosanna.

2

Oh admirable city from every range!
Whether I stand upon your natural towers, -
With your blue carpet spreading to their feet,
Its patterns undulate between the bars, -
Watching until the tender twilight hours,

Barcelona p. 2

Its motion cradling soft a silver fleet;
Or far descend from underneath the stars,

Down - to your bottoms sinister and strange:

3