.'6
PARTISAN REVIEW
He could see it in the distance already, a little opening where the
white sky was reflected in the water. It grew as he ran toward it
until suddenly the whole lake opened up before him, riding ma–
jestically in little corrugated folds toward his feet. He realized sud–
denly that he could not swim and that he had not bought the boat.
On both sides of him he saw that the gaunt trees had thickened into
mysterious dark files that were marching across the water and away
into the distance. He looked around desperately for someone to help
him but the place was deserted except for one huge yellow monster
which sat to the side, as stationary as he was, gorging itself on clay.
Juan Ramo'n
Jim~nez
THE LITTLE GREEN GIRL
The girl is green. She possesses
Eyes of green, hair of green.
Her woodland rosebud
Is not pink nor white but green.
She comes in the green air!
The earth turns green.
Her bright gauzy dress
Is neither white nor blue but green.
She comes in the green sea!
The sky turns green.
My life continually opens
A little door of green for her.
(Translated from the Spanish by H. R. Hays)
