Si mis carnes fueran pensamiento
No valdrían distancias injuriosas:
Dondequiera estés te seguiría
A despecho de límites y espacios;
Aun si mi pie hollara entonces
Las tierras de ti más alejadas
Con sólo pensar dónde te encuentras
Brincara sobre océanos y reinos.
Mas no soy pensamiento, pienso airado,
Y no puedo franquear millas de un salto;
Modelado con agua y tosca arcilla,
Debo aguardar gimiendo, lentas horas.
De elementos tan bajos sólo obtengo,
Emblemas del dolor, lágrimas turbias.

If the dull substance of my flesh were thought,
Injurious distance should not stop my way;
For then despite of space I would be brought,
From limits far remote, where thou dost stay.
No matter then although my foot did stand
Upon the farthest earth removed from thee;
For nimble thought can jump both sea and land
As soon as think the place where he would be.
But ah! thought kills me that I am not thought,
To leap large lengths of miles when thou art gone,
But that, so much of earth and water wrought,
I must attend time's leisure with my moan,
Receiving nought by elements so slow
But heavy tears, badges of either's woe.