"After all -but after all-
it is only about the bed
it's about flesh,
about naked bodies,
lamps for death in this world.
Beheaded glory, survivor
of time, who´s deaf-mute,
the petty pay of those who die together.
To the misery of pleasure, infinitude,
you doomed the quest, to the injust
failure you have chained thirst,
you nailed your heart to a wall.
It is about my body which I bless,
the one I fight to,
which shall give me everything,
in a thick silence,
and which kills and dies often.
Solitude, mark me with your naked foot,
squeeze my heart like grapes,
and fill my mouth with it´s matured liqueurs."
-Jaime Sabines.
miércoles, 3 de julio de 2013
Jaime Sabines
Jaime, jaime. That name is not too far away from the expression "I love", in french. -J´aime-. This is one of those things, those facts or coincidences, that make human condition so suitable for poetry. Thousands of years before physics, poets knew well our world was a realm of possibility. And that some precise look at those possibilities, or some particular sets or arrangements of them, as a result of time and chances, give birth to what we know as beauty.
It is magic, and magic only (the most spectacular of it), the responsible for brevity to be the right vehicle for deepness. Jaime could be enough to describe this poet´s work and life. It is not mere luck. One sees it when reading those pieces of flesh and blood that he somehow managed to pour in pages, in words and silence.
Furthermore, one understands, but this you see when being deep inside his mysterious sea of rhythm, that such flesh and blood come from the heart. To achieve immortality you don't have to own a complete body. It is dead weight, hinders and stumbles over steep ways and mountains. You need nothing but your heart to live perpetually. And this heart has been spilling from eyes to eyes, ever since he published poems, until it got to you, now.
Take it, for it was yours from your very beginning.
It will tell you more about yourself than it would a lover.
martes, 2 de julio de 2013
Poetic profession.
"That no one gets fooled:
poetry does not lead to redemption.
To go back, perhaps, to the dreaming dualism,
to put in writing what we have lost,
or tying knots on bones now broken.
We will never be again the clay we used to
neither forseeing of time or memory are useful,
That no one gets fooled,
poetry is just the profession of being lonely."
-Juan Carlos Bayona, Soledad llena de humo (Smoke filled solitude)
poetry does not lead to redemption.
To go back, perhaps, to the dreaming dualism,
to put in writing what we have lost,
or tying knots on bones now broken.
We will never be again the clay we used to
neither forseeing of time or memory are useful,
That no one gets fooled,
poetry is just the profession of being lonely."
-Juan Carlos Bayona, Soledad llena de humo (Smoke filled solitude)
Apocryphal gospel fragments, part 2.
17. The one that kills for the sake of righteousness, or for a cause he considers right, has no guilt.
18. Men acts do not deserve fire or heavens.
19. You shall not hate your enemy. If you do, you will be in some way his slave. Your hate will never be more valuable that your peace.
20. If your right hand offends you, forgive it. Your are your soul and your body, and it is arduous, or imposible, to set the border between them.
21. You shall not exagerate the cult of truth for there´s no man that, at the end of the day, had not lied rightfully many times.
22. You shall not swear, for swearing is an emphasis.
23. Resist evil, but without fear or amazement. If someone hurts your right cheek, you might show him the other one, if it is not fear what moves you.
24. I don´t speak about vengeance or forgiveness, for oblivion is the only vengeance and the only forgiveness. Doing well to your enemy can be matter of righteousness and isn´t difficult; love him, task for angels, not men.
25. Do well to your enemies is the best way to please your vanity.
26. Don´t treasure gold in this life, for it is the father of leisure, which is father of sadness and tedium.
27. Think that other are rightful or will be, and if they aren´t it wont be your mistake.
26. Don´t treasure gold in this life, for it is the father of leisure, which is father of sadness and tedium.
27. Think that other are rightful or will be, and if they aren´t it wont be your mistake.
26. God is more generous than men, and will judge them with different measures.
27. Give the sacred to the dogs, throw pearls at the pigs; what matters is giving.
27. Give the sacred to the dogs, throw pearls at the pigs; what matters is giving.
28. Look for the joy of looking, not for the sake of finding.
29. The door is who chooses, not the man.
30. Do not judge the tree for its fruits or a man for his actions, they can be better or worse.
30. Do not judge the tree for its fruits or a man for his actions, they can be better or worse.
31. Nothing is built on rock, everything is built on sand, but our duty is to build on sand as if we were on rock.
32. Happy those who are brave, those who receive with equal mood defeat or clapping.
32. Happy those who are brave, those who receive with equal mood defeat or clapping.
33. Happy are the poor without resentment, and the rich with no arrogance.
34. Happy those who keep words from Virgil or Christ in memory, for these will bring light upon their days.
35. Happy are the loved and the lovers, and those who can dispense with love.
36. Happy those who are happy.
Apocryphal gospel fragments, part 1
3. Miserable are the poor in spirit, for down the earth they´ll be what they are over it.
4. Miserable are those who mourn, for they have already acquired the miserable habit of crying.
5. Blessed those who know that suffering is not a glory crown.
6. Being the last is not enough to ever be first.
7. Happy those who don´t insist on being right, for every one is or anyone is.
8. Happy those who forgive others and forgive themselves.
9. Blessed are the gentle, for they don´t condescend to discord.
10. Blessed those who aren´t hungry for righteousness, for they know our luck, adverse or merciful, is the product of chance, which is inscrutable.
11. Blessed are the merciful, for they joy is in the exercise of mercy, and not in hoping for rewards.
12. Blessed are ther pure in heart, for they see God.
13. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for they care more about it than for their human destinies.
14. No one is the salt of the earth, no one, in some point of their lives, isn´t.
15. Let the light of a lamp turn on, if no human sees it, God will.
16. Every commandment can be broken, and the ones I have said and the ones the prophets said.
4. Miserable are those who mourn, for they have already acquired the miserable habit of crying.
5. Blessed those who know that suffering is not a glory crown.
6. Being the last is not enough to ever be first.
7. Happy those who don´t insist on being right, for every one is or anyone is.
8. Happy those who forgive others and forgive themselves.
9. Blessed are the gentle, for they don´t condescend to discord.
10. Blessed those who aren´t hungry for righteousness, for they know our luck, adverse or merciful, is the product of chance, which is inscrutable.
11. Blessed are the merciful, for they joy is in the exercise of mercy, and not in hoping for rewards.
12. Blessed are ther pure in heart, for they see God.
13. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for they care more about it than for their human destinies.
14. No one is the salt of the earth, no one, in some point of their lives, isn´t.
15. Let the light of a lamp turn on, if no human sees it, God will.
16. Every commandment can be broken, and the ones I have said and the ones the prophets said.
lunes, 1 de julio de 2013
Jorge Luis Borges
When I first though about bringing Borges here, I had no idea of how well spread was his literature amongst english readers. Being as he is, a latinamerican, I presumed he wasn´t too famous worldwide. Some events and conversations have led me to believe otherwise and, luckily for me, this grants me permission to skip some comentaries before his debut in this blog.
That could also make me think that there´s no reason for me to translate his work, which would be transgressing the purpose I gave this blog in first place, but: 1) I already have translated a few pieces. 2) Those pieces I have translated aren´t too well known. 3) This is my blog, so screw you.
A quick anecdote I have comed to know from the vast number of rumours behind big artists, regarding Borges:
There was a sort of rivalry between him and another writer called Ernesto Sabato; at least within their country, Argentina. Based in the controversy surrounding it, one of Sabato´s editors had the terrific idea of putting, in the title page of one of his new books: "Sabato vs. Borges". It was to increase sells, of course. As far as we know, Sabato approved, since such book was published that way.
We don´t know if that strategy worked, but when consulted about this by some journalist, Borges said, or so they said he said: "Curious, I would have never written Borges vs. Sabato".
It outlines pretty well the most intriguing virtues of Borges: being at once innocent and ironic, simple but mysterious, precise and ambiguous.
Cheers, my lucky reader.
That could also make me think that there´s no reason for me to translate his work, which would be transgressing the purpose I gave this blog in first place, but: 1) I already have translated a few pieces. 2) Those pieces I have translated aren´t too well known. 3) This is my blog, so screw you.
A quick anecdote I have comed to know from the vast number of rumours behind big artists, regarding Borges:
There was a sort of rivalry between him and another writer called Ernesto Sabato; at least within their country, Argentina. Based in the controversy surrounding it, one of Sabato´s editors had the terrific idea of putting, in the title page of one of his new books: "Sabato vs. Borges". It was to increase sells, of course. As far as we know, Sabato approved, since such book was published that way.
We don´t know if that strategy worked, but when consulted about this by some journalist, Borges said, or so they said he said: "Curious, I would have never written Borges vs. Sabato".
It outlines pretty well the most intriguing virtues of Borges: being at once innocent and ironic, simple but mysterious, precise and ambiguous.
Cheers, my lucky reader.
Israel-Loves-Iran
As if I needed a reason to do this, I will give some few words on this spectacular news I read, and will do it here because literature is nothing but a human expression of love. Or such reasons move me towards books and writing: pure love and joy in loving.
It is and will be usual for us to recieve this message from the set of beliefs and institutions that govern us today, particulary since May of 68: "This is your only matter: you are a taxi driver, a teacher, a student, an unemployed, a football player, a beggar; you can do nothing for world peace, that depends on politics or economics, and your influence over such things is arduous or impossible."
Guess what, sistem: I am not a communist or a terrorist or a delirious hippie, but my love counts and wont depende on your political interests. My love and hate, desire o apathy, are not and will never be, in a worth living lifestyle, up to you to decide. Yes, I am a mother, or a beggar, or beggar which is a mother, but will never surrender to hate someone-that I bearly know- for the sake of politics.
That´s the main message we should hold in mind when reading newspapers or watching CNN. And a man from Israel first had the courage to state it, soundly.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/31/israel-loves-iran-facebook-ronny-edry_n_1846168.html
"Not ready to die in your war" is the motto.
"Iranians, we will never bomb your country: we love you", the starting sentence.
If there´s some place in your head for things that shouln´t be forgotten: make a place for this campaing.
Here is something to cry about!!! A reason for tears to come out in joy and happiness!!!
It is and will be usual for us to recieve this message from the set of beliefs and institutions that govern us today, particulary since May of 68: "This is your only matter: you are a taxi driver, a teacher, a student, an unemployed, a football player, a beggar; you can do nothing for world peace, that depends on politics or economics, and your influence over such things is arduous or impossible."
Guess what, sistem: I am not a communist or a terrorist or a delirious hippie, but my love counts and wont depende on your political interests. My love and hate, desire o apathy, are not and will never be, in a worth living lifestyle, up to you to decide. Yes, I am a mother, or a beggar, or beggar which is a mother, but will never surrender to hate someone-that I bearly know- for the sake of politics.
That´s the main message we should hold in mind when reading newspapers or watching CNN. And a man from Israel first had the courage to state it, soundly.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/31/israel-loves-iran-facebook-ronny-edry_n_1846168.html
"Not ready to die in your war" is the motto.
"Iranians, we will never bomb your country: we love you", the starting sentence.
If there´s some place in your head for things that shouln´t be forgotten: make a place for this campaing.
Here is something to cry about!!! A reason for tears to come out in joy and happiness!!!
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