Last month I challenged myself to write a haiku a day to celebrate NaHaiWriMo. I’ve been asked to post the complete poem at one time so people don’t have to jump between posts, so here it is—as promised. As a bonus, I translated the same poem into Spanish for my friend Soraya. She will have to tell me if the translation makes sense.

Note as of 3/5/2018: The Spanish version has been corrected thanks to Soraya’s suggestions. It has been updated here.

Jewel

Jewel arrives to see

her Romeo departing

with his new love, Death.

Jealous rage consumes

her future with youthful fire

burning bright on blade.

Knife in hand, she thrusts

eyes fixed on lost Romeo

and opens her heart.

She pours out her soul

in a heated rush of red—

ruining dress and life.

A jilted girl’s wrath

leaves little room for mercy—

all near must suffer.

Blessed dark consumes

her anger with dreamless sleep

and silence shrouds her.

There an end might be

for sweet Jewel and Romeo…

but for the hunchback.

He came to rob tombs

relieving corpse of treasure

useless currency.

In a ruby pool

he found the lovely maiden

heart barely beating.

Transfixed with his find

he spirited her away

to his forest hut.

There he cared for Jewel

binding both her wounds and heart

hoping to win her.

But, oblivious

she wandered Morpheus’ shores

far from waking day.

A year he waited

applying salves and wishes

for love to find them.

His world was fractured—

from first breath he was unloved.

In Jewel he saw hope.

As she lay, eyes closed

She was blind to ugliness.

In dreams, she heard him.

His voice comforted

the jealous fire in her heart—

soothed by gentleness.

He spoke words of love.

Her heart unfolded to hear.

His soul spoke to hers.

True love is blinded

to physical attributes

In her, he saw truth.

Scarred and imperfect

He hoped when her eyes opened

She would see beyond.

Finally, Jewel awoke

kissed back to life by the sun.

The hunchback waited.

His voice she followed.

From the dark shores she wandered

to meet a new prince.

His eager face shone

with sweet anticipation—

waiting for reward.

One smile from his Jewel

was all he dared to desire—

such a small kindness.

Her gaze turned to ice

when she saw his humble self.

Her depth was skin deep.

She pushed him away

revulsion etched on her face.

His world fell with him.

Quickly, she rose up

with a mind to flee this beast

whose voice had warmed her.

Her gown betrayed her

a web chosen by herself—

snared by silk and lace.

First a blade, then stone

tore the veil for Jewel to pass.

She could not return.

Sorrow stopped his heart.

The hunchback joined the couple—

Death’s ménage à trois.

---

Juliet (y espaniol)

Ediciones españolas de Soraya Murillo Hernandez

Julieta llegó

para ver partir a su Romeo

hacia su nuevo amor, la Muerte

Consumida por los celos

con la llama ardiente de la juventud

quema su vida en un hoja.

Cuchillo en mano, con los ojos

fijos en su Romeo

se abre el corazón.

Una ráfaga roja

se lleva su alma

arruinando su vida y su vestido

La llama del abandono

no guarda misericordia

y todo debe perecer.

La oscuridad buscada

apaga su ira en un sueño sin sueños

y todo es silencio.

Puede haber un final

dulce para Julieta y Romeo

debido a un jorobado.

Es un ladrón de tumbas

robando el oro

que ya resulta inútil.

Cubierta de rubíes

encontró a la bella muchacha

con su corazón casi apagado.

Exaltado por su hallazgo

se la llevó de allí

a su cabaña del bosque.

Le dedica sus cuidados

curando su herida y su corazón

intentando ganarse su amor.

Pero inconsciente

vagó por el mundo de Morfeo

sin despertar.

Por un año

aplicó remedios deseando

encontrarlos.

Desde su primer día

nunca tuvo cariño.

Julieta era su esperanza.

Mientras ella yacía con los ojos cerrados

era ajena a la fealdad.

En sueños lo escuchaba.

Su voz calmaba

la ira de su corazón

por la pérdida.

Le hablaba de amor.

Pero la pasión

se ciega en la belleza

y lo comprobó en ella.

Deforme e imperfecto

deseó que cuando despertara

viera su alma.

Por fin Julieta despertó,

la luz del sol la trajo a la vida

El jorobado esperó.

Ella escuchaba su voz.

Había vuelto de las sombras

para conocer a su nuevo príncipe.

Con rostro impaciente,

con dulce esperanza,

esperando la recompensa.

Una sonrisa de su Julieta

era todo su deseo,

como un pequeño beso.

Pero su rostro se tornó frío

cuando vio su aspecto

Profundamente decepcionada

con el asco en su gesto

lo imaginado desapareció.

Se levantó subitamente

para huir de ese horror

cuya voz la había enamorado.

Su vestido la traicionó,

ella misma lo había escogido

y ahora caía atrapada en seda y encaje.

Primero una cuchilla y ahora una piedra,

rasgaron la frontera.

Esta vez sin retorno.

La tristeza paró su corazón

El jorobado acompañó a la pareja.

La muerte se cobró un trío.