Several ideas stand out in Act II but most vividly for me is the poetry of this act. And the main kind of poetry in this act could be called the epithalamion (also epithalamium)--which is a poem or song written or performed in celebration of a wedding.
The poetry here is lyrical and lovely. I am going to write my blog using selected text from this section of the play—reformatted into an epithalamium. Much of the act is already in verse form but it is broken up. I will attempt to lift out the wedding poetry—the epithalamion/epithalamium
Epithalamion for Blood Wedding
The bide is awakening
On the morning of the wedding!
The rivers of the world
Carry your crown!
Let her awaken
With the tender blossom
Of the laurel in flower!
May she awaken
By the trunk and the branch
Of the laurel in flower.
Did the groom bring the orange blossom
She is to wear on her breast?
The bride is awakening
On the morning of her wedding!
The circle turns, and brings a crown
To every balcony.
Let her awaken
By the trunk and the branch
Of the laurel in flower.
Let her awaken
With her long hair flowing,
A nightgown of snowflakes,
Silver leather slippers,
And jasmine on her forehead.
O Shepherdess,
The moon is rising!
O gallant lover,
Leave your hat in the orchard!
The bride is awakening
The guests are arriving
To dance at her wedding,
With trays of dahlias,
And cakes for the wedding.
The bride is now wearing
Her white bridal crown,
The bridegroom has pinned it
With ribbons of gold.
Under the grapefruit tree
The bride is unable to sleep.
Under the orange tree, the groom
Offers a tablecloth, a spoon.
Awaken, my dove!
The while dawn unburdens
Bells in the shade.
Come down, dusky maiden,
Trailing your train made of silk.
Come down, dusky maiden,
Fresh with the cool morning dew.
Awaken, senora, awaken!
As orange blossoms rain through the air.
I want to embroider a tree
Covered with garnet ribbons.
With words of love on each ribbon,
And shouts of praise all around!
The bride is awakening!
On the morning of the wedding!
On the morning of the wedding
How enchanting you will be—
Like a flower of the mountains!
Like the wife of a captain!
The wife of a captain
Is taking the bridegroom!
He comes with his oxen
To capture the treasure!
The bridegroom is golden—
A golden flower.
Wherever he travels
There are flowers in his footsteps.
O happy child!
The bride is awakening!
O my enchantress!
The wedding guests are calling
Underneath your window.
They’re ringing!
Bells are ringing!
She’s coming here!
She’s coming now!
The wedding looms
Like a bull n the ring!
What perfume did you put in her hair!
The groom is gold—
A golden flower.
A peaceful light
Shines from his eyes.
On the morning of your marriage
We are crowing you with flowers.
So the meadows may be merry
With the fragrance of your hair.
On leaving your house,
Maiden so pure,
Remember you leave
Like a star!
Your’re leaving your home
To go to the church.
The breeze is tossing flowers
Along the sands.
Oh, the girl is pure!
The lace of her mantilla
Is like a shady breeze
Remember: you leave
Like a star!
Turning—
The wheel was turning.
And the water flowing,
The wedding approaches!
Let the branches spread pen
And the moon embellish
Her white veranda!
Singing—
The lovers were singing.
And the water was flowing,
The wedding approaches!
Let the frost shine and sparkle!
Let the bitter almonds
Be filled with honey!
My lady—
My lady of the land.
See the water flowing!
Your wedding approaches!
You must gather your trousseau
Under the wing of your bridegroom.
Never go from your house—
Because your bridegroom’s a dove,
With his whole heart an ember!
Turning—
The wheel was turning.
And the water flowing.
Your wedding approaches!
Let the water be glowing!
by Federico Garcia Lorca
