[Julie Steiner]

Andalusia, the home region of Salvador Rueda (1857–1933), is one of the main peach-producing areas of Spain.


Salvador Rueda: The Peach

DRAFT THREE

It gives to the greedy sense of smell its scents,
its brilliant color to the sense of sight,
when—golden cover safe-cracked—split to light,
an open sesame of redolence.

Each breast’s delicious gift of balsam-intense
flesh, it offers as the palate’s right,
and to the touch it gives a fluttery flight
on velvet’s luster and luxuriance.

Its carmine and its canyons on display,
it pours out finery, perfumes, and play,
its juice on offer like a precious prize.

And, tossing to the breeze its cover of gold—
a fragrant ringlet, spiraling—behold
its inmost witchcraft, opened to the eyes!


DRAFT TWO

It gives to the greedy sense of smell its scents,
its brilliant color to the sense of sight,
when—gold peel breached—it’s been exposed to light,
this open sesame of redolence.

Its breast’s a tasty gift of balm-intense
flesh, presented as the palate’s right,
and to the touch it gives a fluttery flight
across its velvety luxuriance.

Its carmine and its grooves on full display,
it pours out finery, perfumes, and play,
its juice on offer like a precious prize.

And, tossing to the breeze its peel of gold—
a fragrant ringlet, spiraling—behold,
its inmost charm lies open to the eyes!


DRAFT ONE

It gives to the greedy sense of smell its scents,
its brilliant color to the sense of sight,
when—gold peel breached—it’s been exposed to light,
this “Open, sesame” of redolence.

Its breast’s a tasty gift—balsam-intense
flesh—presented as the palate’s right,
and to the touch it gives the feel of flight
across its velvety luxuriance.

Its cleavage and cosmetics on display,
it pours out finery, perfumes, and play,
its juice on offer like a precious prize.

And, tossing to the breeze its peel of gold—
a fragrant ringlet, spiraling—behold,
its inner charms lie open to the eyes!


LITERAL ENGLISH PROSE CRIB

It gives perfume to the covetous sense of smell
and brilliant color to the gaze,
when, upon breaking its golden covering,
it is opened to the light like a fragrant sesame.

Its breast it offers like a tasty gift
to the palate, its flesh balsam-laden,
and to the touch it gives the flying sensation
of a velvet rich and lustrous.

Its carmine (also a term for lipstick) on display and its grooves,
it spills aromas, lights (literally, but the verb “lucir” can mean to wear jewelry or fancy clothing) and joys (literally, but “alegrías” is also slang for “naughty bits”),
its juice on offer like a treasure.

And it opens to the eyes its interior enchantment,
tossing to the breeze like a sweet-smelling ringlet
the spiral of its covering of gold!


El melocotón

Da perfume al olfato codicioso
y brillante color a la mirada,
cuando, al romper su túnica dorada,
se abre a la luz cual sésamo oloroso.

Su seno ofrece como don sabroso
al paladar, su carne enbalsamada,
y al tacto da la sensación alada
de un terciopelo rico y luminoso.

Su carmín enseñado y sus estrías,
derrama aromas, luces y alegrías,
su jugo al ofrecer como un tesoro.

Y abre a los ojos su interior hechizo,
¡tirando al aire cual oliente rizo
la espiral de su túnica de oro!