==>Please Help With Understanding Spanish Poem

Question

I believe the meaning of this poem is that actually I have really no idea.... BUT I will try... OK, so i THINK that the poem has to do with words of the human being strong and "poisonous". That the words of the human are incomprehensible and confusing. Yet, I have no idea what the Ibis bird has to do with anything...

Poem is below.

Ibis por Rubén Darío

Spanish Version:

Cuidadoso estoy siempre ante el Ibis de Ovidio, enigma humano tan ponzoñoso y suave Que casi no pretende su condición de ave cuando se ha conquistado sus terrores de ofidio.

English Version:

Careful I am always before the Ibis of Ovid, so poisonous human enigma and smooth That almost does not intend its condition of bird when has been conquered its terrors of ophidian.

YOUR HELP IS VERY VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!

please even if you don't know the answer just try...

Answer 1

To understand this poem you will have to read another poem.

"Ibis" is the title of a poem written by Publius Ovidius Naso (roman poet) about one of his enemies. The identity of "Ibis" is an enigma. This unknown man (or woman) seems to be gentle but is poisonous (according to Ovidius).

Darío is playing with the name "Ibis": as a bird, but also as an ophidian, horrific and poisonous.

wow, great answer:) - 00494d19, Feb 21, 2011

Indeed! Voting. - Gekkosan, Feb 21, 2011

Now there is an answer!!! voting. - pacofinkler, Feb 21, 2011

Amazing thanks! - kanani142, Feb 21, 2011

Answer 2

In fact, I think, Darío is trying to tell us through his poem, that he is always aware about people that show a gentle side but in reality are poisonous or dangerous.

nice! - Silvia, Feb 21, 2011

very astute - happymind, Feb 21, 2011

Answer 3

Cuidadoso estoy siempre ante el Ibis de Ovidio,

enigma humano tan ponzoñoso y suave

Que casi no pretende su condición de ave

cuando se ha conquistado sus terrores de ofidio.

Here is how I would render the above:

Careful am I always before the Ovidian Ibis,

Human enigma so venemous and smooth

That it scarcely suggests its avian nature

Now that its ophidian terrors have been conquered

Another go following Agora's contextually enlightening comment:

Careful am I always before the Ovidian Ibis,

Human enigma so venemous and smooth

That it scarcely pretends to its avian nature

Even now, that its ophidian terrors have been conquered

Great job!. The poem is so hard to translate!. The main task is to express that when Ibis has conquered his "dark" side, his pretentions of achiving a gentle face fail. - Agora, Feb 22, 2011

Why thank you, I'm not familiar with the subject. You clearly are and I am thusly flattered :-) - afowen, Feb 22, 2011

Please miss, please miss, will you mark my other go? - afowen, Feb 22, 2011

Lol. Thank you. - Agora, Feb 22, 2011

I can help you with this to the extent of my abilities. I am not a master of english, nor a poet. But in my opinion you have grasped the concept. - Agora, Feb 22, 2011

Quite the diplomat :-) - afowen, Feb 22, 2011

Answer 4

thanks everyone!

Answer 5

hi friend

I think this:

I always take care of Ibis of the Ovidis, the enigmatic human so poisonous and gentle that almost do not show its condition as an a bird when has been coquered by its snaky horrores.

To take care of means cuidar. You want to say careful or cautious - afowen, Feb 21, 2011