The Dark-winged Swallows will Return

The other day I was looking for some notebook paper and came across a poem that my daughter had transcribed for her Castellano class. It's Volverán las oscuras golondrinas 
by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-1870). These little discoveries are what keep me on track with my work, even when I am filled with doubt.

The first two stanzas talk about the seasonal visit of these creatures, who supposedly mate for life. Spanish and English excerpts below...

 

  Volverán las oscuras golondrinas
en tu balcón sus nidos a colgar,
y, otra vez, con el ala a sus cristales
      jugando llamarán;

pero aquéllas que el vuelo refrenaban            
tu hermosura y mi dicha al contemplar,
aquéllas que aprendieron nuestros nombres...
      ésas... ¡no volverán!

As of yet untitled, Ink on paper. 

First approach at capturing the affects of cut-paper shapes 

layered on top of a light box, as seen in the post  Gestation period.

The dark-winged swallows will return

The dark-winged swallows will return
to hang their nests beneath your eaves,
and before your windows once again
beckon with their wings;

but those whose flight restrained
your beauty and my joy to learn,
those who came to know our names...
those...will not return!