Birth of Venus

Summary

That morning, after such a fearful night

had passed — so filled with outcry, uproar, tumult —

the whole sea split apart once more and shrieked.

And as that scream closed shut again, and from

the heavens’ pallid light at dawn, fell back

down in the chasm of the sea's mute fish,

the waves gave birth.

From dawn's first light, in sun, the hair-foam shimmered

on the wide waves’ pubic curls, upon

whose crests the girl arose, white, wet, and dazed.

The way a young green shoot will lift itself,

reach out, and slowly open up, unrolling,

her body's curl devolved into the coolness,

and into the still-untouched fresh breeze.

The bright knees rose like moons and disappeared

inside the cloudy edges of her thighs;

the slender shadows of the calves retreated,

the feet then flexed themselves, becoming light,

and all the ligaments sprung into life

like thirsty throats.

And in the chalice of the hips her belly

lay, like some young fruit a child might hold.

And in its navel's little crater-cup

was all the darkness that this life would hold.

Down underneath, a small, light wave was rising,

which lapped constantly on toward the loins,

where now and then there broke a silent ripple.

Translucent though, and still untouched by shadow —

like a stand of birch in April — warm,

and empty and unhidden lay her sex.

Now the shoulders’ lively balance stood,

scales poised already on the upright body,

which from the pelvis, jetted like a fountain,

and hesitantly fell in the long arms,

and faster still in cascades of the hair.

Dann ging sehr langsam das Gesicht vorbei:

aus dem verkürzten Dunkel seiner Neigung

in klares, waagrechtes Erhobensein.

Und hinter ihm verschloß sich steil das Kinn.

Jetzt, da der Hals gestreckt war wie ein Strahl

und wie ein Blumenstiel, darin der Saft steigt,

streckten sich auch die Arme aus wie Hälse

von Schwänen, wenn sie nach dem Ufer suchen.

Dann kam in dieses Leibes dunkle Frühe

wie Morgenwind der erste Atemzug.

Im zartesten Geäst der Aderbäume