Francesco Petrarca

Sonnet 227

Breeze, blowing that blonde curling hair,
stirring it, and being softly stirred in turn,
scattering that sweet gold about, then
gathering it, in a lovely knot of curls again,
 
you linger around bright eyes whose loving sting
pierces me so, till I feel it and weep,
and I wander searching for my treasure,
like a creature that often shies and kicks:
 
now I seem to find her, now I realise
she’s far away, now I’m comforted, now despair,
now longing for her, now truly seeing her.
 
Happy air, remain here with your
living rays: and you, clear running stream,
why can’t I exchange my path for yours?
 
Translated by A. S. Kline
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