Alfonsina Storni (1892 – 1938) was an Argentinian poet and feminist of the modernist period. Her work has inspired many writers, artists and musicians including Ariel Ramírez and Félix Luna who composed the song Alfonsina y el Mar ("Alfonsina and the sea"), performed by Mercedes Sosa, Tania Libertad, Mocedades, Andrés Calamaro, Katia Cardenal and many others.
You can find more information about Storni here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonsina_Storni or listen to Mercedes Sosa's very beautiful rendering of
Alfonsina y el mar here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O7vewJGMYk&feature=related.
The full poem:
Dulce tortura Polvo de oro en tus manos fue mi melancolía
Sobre tus manos largas desparramé mi vida;
Mis dulzuras quedaron a tus manos prendidas;
Ahora soy un ánfora de perfumes vacía.
Cuánta dulce tortura quietamente sufrida
Cuando, picada el alma de tristeza sombría,
Sabedora de engaños, me pasada los días
¡Besando las dos manos que me ajaban la vida!
Sweet tortureMy melancholy was gold dust in your hands;
into your long hands I scattered my life;
my gentleness remains taken by your hands;
now I am a phial empty of perfume.
How much sweet torture quietly suffered
when stung by the soul of dark sadness,
aware of the lies, I pass my days
kissing the two hands that stifle my life!