lunes, 14 de diciembre de 2009
martes, 16 de junio de 2009
Looking at the photo of the father
While still lying on the horizon,
My father, and no one knew
I've gotten headaches for your feet,
I am filled with bread and egg,
potato and salad with tomato,
and embetunado up ears,
sausage on your chest, well-adjusted in your arms,
my head has taken the shape of your head,
watching this iconic photograph
taken a few steps from the nursery of lobster,
I realize how I disappeared,
I was looking in the mirror
to certify that I am not dreaming,
are you, my father, I look at your nose, is equal to my nose,
my ears are your ears,
how to wear the coat, dark glasses,
is equal to the style of my coat and my glasses;
It seems for over thirty years
're inside this bag with my clothes,
with all your huesitos, one by one, intact,
You, with wrinkles, I, here, with my losses.
My father, and no one knew
I've gotten headaches for your feet,
I am filled with bread and egg,
potato and salad with tomato,
and embetunado up ears,
sausage on your chest, well-adjusted in your arms,
my head has taken the shape of your head,
watching this iconic photograph
taken a few steps from the nursery of lobster,
I realize how I disappeared,
I was looking in the mirror
to certify that I am not dreaming,
are you, my father, I look at your nose, is equal to my nose,
my ears are your ears,
how to wear the coat, dark glasses,
is equal to the style of my coat and my glasses;
It seems for over thirty years
're inside this bag with my clothes,
with all your huesitos, one by one, intact,
You, with wrinkles, I, here, with my losses.
miércoles, 8 de abril de 2009
El poeta agradece haber nacido en Valparaíso The poet is grateful for having been born in Valparaiso
Por más agua bendita que traigan
However much holy water bring
las lluvias y los ríos
the rains and the rivers
nunca quisiera haber sido yo mismo
I would never have wanted to be myself
una catedral gótica;
a gothic cathedral
imagine usted, este neófito que escribe,
imagine, this beginner who writes,
por más hermoso que sea, cómo podría
however beautiful he might be, how could he
llegar a ser la Notre Dame,
go as far as to be Notre Dame,
o la catedral de Burgos del cerro Cordillera?
or Burgos cathedral under the mountain chain?
pobre lenteja verde,
poor green lentil
qué ridículo me vería
how ridiculous I seemed
con arcos aguzados sobre mi cabeza,
with pointed arches over my head,
o que mis piernas fuesen dos columnas
of that my legs should be two columns
casi tocando el cielo,
nearly touching the sky
y mi pobre fachada que ya no tengo,
and my poor facade which I no longer have,
la torre principal mi campanario;
the main tower my belfry;
yo que nunca me he puesto
I, who have never worn
una corbata al cuello, ni zapatos
a tie round my neck, nor shoes
demasiado brillantes,
which were too shiny
no me vería bien con una bóveda de crucería,
I wouldn't look good with a ribbed vault.
o a dos brazos
or with both arms
sujetando arcos y agujas,
supporting arches and spires,
ay, madre mía, tu tesorito agradece
oh, mother of mine, your little treasure is grateful
el haberme traído a este mundo,
for having brought me into this world,
hecho de carne y hueso, brillando
made of flesh and blood, radiant
entre tanta naturaleza salvaje.
among so much savage nature.
However much holy water bring
las lluvias y los ríos
the rains and the rivers
nunca quisiera haber sido yo mismo
I would never have wanted to be myself
una catedral gótica;
a gothic cathedral
imagine usted, este neófito que escribe,
imagine, this beginner who writes,
por más hermoso que sea, cómo podría
however beautiful he might be, how could he
llegar a ser la Notre Dame,
go as far as to be Notre Dame,
o la catedral de Burgos del cerro Cordillera?
or Burgos cathedral under the mountain chain?
pobre lenteja verde,
poor green lentil
qué ridículo me vería
how ridiculous I seemed
con arcos aguzados sobre mi cabeza,
with pointed arches over my head,
o que mis piernas fuesen dos columnas
of that my legs should be two columns
casi tocando el cielo,
nearly touching the sky
y mi pobre fachada que ya no tengo,
and my poor facade which I no longer have,
la torre principal mi campanario;
the main tower my belfry;
yo que nunca me he puesto
I, who have never worn
una corbata al cuello, ni zapatos
a tie round my neck, nor shoes
demasiado brillantes,
which were too shiny
no me vería bien con una bóveda de crucería,
I wouldn't look good with a ribbed vault.
o a dos brazos
or with both arms
sujetando arcos y agujas,
supporting arches and spires,
ay, madre mía, tu tesorito agradece
oh, mother of mine, your little treasure is grateful
el haberme traído a este mundo,
for having brought me into this world,
hecho de carne y hueso, brillando
made of flesh and blood, radiant
entre tanta naturaleza salvaje.
among so much savage nature.
La poesía se bebe pura Poetry should be drunk neat
Para evitar una caída vertical,
To prevent a vertical fall,
mi amada me ha reservado
my love has reserved for me
pasaje gratis en un tren
free travel on a train
con una cama muy dura,
with a very hard bed,
bajo el vaivén de sus olas
under the rocking of its waves
me he metido dentro de un zapato
I have put myself into a shoe
que navega cómodamente
which sails comfortably
en las aguas azuladas
in the azure waters
de un Vicente Huidobro;
of a Vicente Huidobro;
no me importa la familia
it is of no matter to me the family
de donde usted venga,
which you come from,
yo no me fijo en esas cosas,
I don't pay attention to such things
me basta que la poesía tenga
it is enough for me that the poetry has
buenas piernas por atrás,
good legs behind
y por delante, dos manzanas
and in front, two apples
bien rosadas, un racimo de uvas
good and rosy, a bunch of grapes
blancas o negras;
white or black;
dando dos pasos hacia delante
giving two paces forward
y dos pasos hacia atrás,
and two paces back,
me hice creyente, ni uno más, ni uno menos,
I became a believer, not one more, nor one less,
de los siete días del universo,
of the seven days of the universe,
de un zapato sale cantando
from one shoe comes singing
un canario amarillo,
a yellow canary,
del otro, un pájaro oscuro,
from the other, a dark bird
el primer pájaro que vi
the first bird I saw
venía diciendo: ¿quién
was saying: who
ha visto por aquí mis cantos?
has seen my songs round here?
el otro, que vive en los montes,
the other, which lives in the hills,
se comió las palabras,
bit off its words,
así llegó la noche
and so came the night
y la noche habló entre nosotros: ¿quién
and the night spoke among us: who
ha visto por aquí una mañana refulgente,
has seen round here a brilliant dawn,
esta es la moraleja: nunca
this is the lesson: never
ponga Coca Cola en el vaso,
put Coca Cola in the glass
la poesía se bebe pura.
poetry should be drunk neat.
To prevent a vertical fall,
mi amada me ha reservado
my love has reserved for me
pasaje gratis en un tren
free travel on a train
con una cama muy dura,
with a very hard bed,
bajo el vaivén de sus olas
under the rocking of its waves
me he metido dentro de un zapato
I have put myself into a shoe
que navega cómodamente
which sails comfortably
en las aguas azuladas
in the azure waters
de un Vicente Huidobro;
of a Vicente Huidobro;
no me importa la familia
it is of no matter to me the family
de donde usted venga,
which you come from,
yo no me fijo en esas cosas,
I don't pay attention to such things
me basta que la poesía tenga
it is enough for me that the poetry has
buenas piernas por atrás,
good legs behind
y por delante, dos manzanas
and in front, two apples
bien rosadas, un racimo de uvas
good and rosy, a bunch of grapes
blancas o negras;
white or black;
dando dos pasos hacia delante
giving two paces forward
y dos pasos hacia atrás,
and two paces back,
me hice creyente, ni uno más, ni uno menos,
I became a believer, not one more, nor one less,
de los siete días del universo,
of the seven days of the universe,
de un zapato sale cantando
from one shoe comes singing
un canario amarillo,
a yellow canary,
del otro, un pájaro oscuro,
from the other, a dark bird
el primer pájaro que vi
the first bird I saw
venía diciendo: ¿quién
was saying: who
ha visto por aquí mis cantos?
has seen my songs round here?
el otro, que vive en los montes,
the other, which lives in the hills,
se comió las palabras,
bit off its words,
así llegó la noche
and so came the night
y la noche habló entre nosotros: ¿quién
and the night spoke among us: who
ha visto por aquí una mañana refulgente,
has seen round here a brilliant dawn,
esta es la moraleja: nunca
this is the lesson: never
ponga Coca Cola en el vaso,
put Coca Cola in the glass
la poesía se bebe pura.
poetry should be drunk neat.
En el bicentenario de Charles Darwin In Charles Darwin's bicentenary
esta es mi amada, a todos ustedes
this is my love, to all of you
se lo voy a contar: no sé quien
I will tell of it: I don't know who
me ha dando indebidamente su rostro,
has given me her face by mistake
retrato de agua dulce,
a portrait of fresh water
retrato de agua salada,
a portrait of sea water
quién ha venido a decirme: "Eduardo,
who has come to tell me: "Eduardo,
impone tus condiciones,
impose your conditions,
hoy es el bicentenario de Charles Darwin,
today is Charles Darwin's bicentenary,
toma la mujer que no es tuya",
take the woman who is not yours",
y en pleno ejercicio del amor
and in full exercise of love
con el hombre que no la ama,
with the man who does not love her,
he llegado a su casa,
I have arrived at her house,
manos seguras y firmes,
safe steady hands
la tomo, la arranco de raíz
I take her, pluck her from the roots
como se arranca una planta de la tierra,
as you pull up a plant from the earth
la pongo sobre aquel animal
I put her on that animal
que llevaba conmigo
which I bear with me
y me la llevo, me la estoy llevando,
and I carry her off, I am carrying her off
corro con ella a perderme por los caminos,
I run with her and lose myself on the way,
penetro montes y montes,
I penetrate mountains and mountains,
y de un salto gigante que doy,
and giving a giant leap
paso al otro lado de las montañas,
I cross to the other side of the mountains
entro a los pueblos que había,
among the villages that were there
unos aplauden, y otros escupen en el suelo,
some applaud, others spit on the ground
se oyen vivas y maldiciones,
cheers and curses are heard
retrato de agua dulce,
a portrait of fresh water
retrato de agua salada,
a portrait of sea water
hoy cuando el universo celebra
today when the universe celebrates
el bicentenario de Charles Darwin,
Charles Darwin's bicentenary,
qué hacer me digo, con este rostro
what do I do, I say, with this face,
ardiente que indebidamente
burning, which by mistake I
llevo en los bolsillos?
Carry in my pockets?
this is my love, to all of you
se lo voy a contar: no sé quien
I will tell of it: I don't know who
me ha dando indebidamente su rostro,
has given me her face by mistake
retrato de agua dulce,
a portrait of fresh water
retrato de agua salada,
a portrait of sea water
quién ha venido a decirme: "Eduardo,
who has come to tell me: "Eduardo,
impone tus condiciones,
impose your conditions,
hoy es el bicentenario de Charles Darwin,
today is Charles Darwin's bicentenary,
toma la mujer que no es tuya",
take the woman who is not yours",
y en pleno ejercicio del amor
and in full exercise of love
con el hombre que no la ama,
with the man who does not love her,
he llegado a su casa,
I have arrived at her house,
manos seguras y firmes,
safe steady hands
la tomo, la arranco de raíz
I take her, pluck her from the roots
como se arranca una planta de la tierra,
as you pull up a plant from the earth
la pongo sobre aquel animal
I put her on that animal
que llevaba conmigo
which I bear with me
y me la llevo, me la estoy llevando,
and I carry her off, I am carrying her off
corro con ella a perderme por los caminos,
I run with her and lose myself on the way,
penetro montes y montes,
I penetrate mountains and mountains,
y de un salto gigante que doy,
and giving a giant leap
paso al otro lado de las montañas,
I cross to the other side of the mountains
entro a los pueblos que había,
among the villages that were there
unos aplauden, y otros escupen en el suelo,
some applaud, others spit on the ground
se oyen vivas y maldiciones,
cheers and curses are heard
retrato de agua dulce,
a portrait of fresh water
retrato de agua salada,
a portrait of sea water
hoy cuando el universo celebra
today when the universe celebrates
el bicentenario de Charles Darwin,
Charles Darwin's bicentenary,
qué hacer me digo, con este rostro
what do I do, I say, with this face,
ardiente que indebidamente
burning, which by mistake I
llevo en los bolsillos?
Carry in my pockets?
Del siglo de oro para atrás From before the Siglo de Oro
Sabiendo que no se sabe nada
Knowing that nothing is known
del siglo de oro para atrás
going back from the Siglo de Oro
sólo puedo soñarlo
I can only dream of it
como un pez de colores
like a goldfish
en una página iluminada;
in an illuminated page
una estrella nueva por aquí,
a new star right here
por encima de mi cabeza,
above my head
a mil millas por segundo, un cometa;
at a thousand miles a second, a comet;
esto es lo que se veía detrás del trono
this was what they saw behind the throne
de Juan II de Castilla, y todavía temblando
of Juan II of Castile, and still trembling
por mi visiones, oigo una voz
from my visions, I hear a voice
'chico, tú eres como un semidiós',
'shorty, you are like a demigod'
qué ridiculez, me digo; la voz insiste:
what nonsense, I tell myself; the voice insists
'no contradigas a tu pluma',
'don't contradict your pen'
dentro de la biblioteca me siento en casa,
inside the library I feel at home
soy un pez feliz junto a su paraguas,
I'm a happy fish next to its umbrella,
dentro de una pecera un gran caballero,
a great gentleman inside a fishbowl
cuando el rey se tomaba la cabeza a dos manos,
when the king takes his head in both hands
la telefonía móvil me trae un aviso,
the mobile 'phone brings me a message,
'hijo, te espero en casa, la cena está preparada',
'son, we're waiting at home, dinner is ready'
doy un salto de pez que abandona su pecera,
I give the leap of a fish abandoning its bowl,
dejo los libros encima del escritorio,
leave the books on the writing desk,
bajo corriendo las escaleras del edificio,
run down the stairs of the building,
se me caen las gafas,
my glasses fall off,
quito el candado de mi bicicleta,
I take the lock off my bicycle,
y para no tocar suave como una pluma,
and so as not to touch, light as a feather,
ciego y sin nada, atravieso volando
blind and free, I fly through
el cementerio oscuro,
the dark cemetery
al salir a la avenida, ya veo la casa
on coming out onto the avenue, now I see the house
toda iluminada.
all lit up.
Knowing that nothing is known
del siglo de oro para atrás
going back from the Siglo de Oro
sólo puedo soñarlo
I can only dream of it
como un pez de colores
like a goldfish
en una página iluminada;
in an illuminated page
una estrella nueva por aquí,
a new star right here
por encima de mi cabeza,
above my head
a mil millas por segundo, un cometa;
at a thousand miles a second, a comet;
esto es lo que se veía detrás del trono
this was what they saw behind the throne
de Juan II de Castilla, y todavía temblando
of Juan II of Castile, and still trembling
por mi visiones, oigo una voz
from my visions, I hear a voice
'chico, tú eres como un semidiós',
'shorty, you are like a demigod'
qué ridiculez, me digo; la voz insiste:
what nonsense, I tell myself; the voice insists
'no contradigas a tu pluma',
'don't contradict your pen'
dentro de la biblioteca me siento en casa,
inside the library I feel at home
soy un pez feliz junto a su paraguas,
I'm a happy fish next to its umbrella,
dentro de una pecera un gran caballero,
a great gentleman inside a fishbowl
cuando el rey se tomaba la cabeza a dos manos,
when the king takes his head in both hands
la telefonía móvil me trae un aviso,
the mobile 'phone brings me a message,
'hijo, te espero en casa, la cena está preparada',
'son, we're waiting at home, dinner is ready'
doy un salto de pez que abandona su pecera,
I give the leap of a fish abandoning its bowl,
dejo los libros encima del escritorio,
leave the books on the writing desk,
bajo corriendo las escaleras del edificio,
run down the stairs of the building,
se me caen las gafas,
my glasses fall off,
quito el candado de mi bicicleta,
I take the lock off my bicycle,
y para no tocar suave como una pluma,
and so as not to touch, light as a feather,
ciego y sin nada, atravieso volando
blind and free, I fly through
el cementerio oscuro,
the dark cemetery
al salir a la avenida, ya veo la casa
on coming out onto the avenue, now I see the house
toda iluminada.
all lit up.
Pobrecitos los poetas del barroco The poor little poets of the baroque
Pobrecitos los poetas del barroco
Poor little things, the poets of the baroque
Yo, chilenito, latinoamericano, por temor a queme agarren
I, a little chilean, latin american, for fear that they grab me
de una pierna, me aparté
by one leg, I moved aside
del demonio y de sus encantos terribles;
from the devil and his terrible enchantments;
pero no me distancié de sus brazos;
but I did not distance myself from his arms;
convertí
I transformed
el vino en agua, y el agua
the wine into water, and the water
en humito blanco,
into a wisp of white mist
y para saludar a mi amada
and to greet my love
en sus cumpleaños transformé piedras
on her birthday I will turn stones
en encendedores para iluminar mis cigarrillos;
into lighters to light my cigarettes;
eso es lo que pasa con los nuevos barredores
that is what happens to the new cleaners
de Europa, en estas frías tierras lluviosas
of Europe, in these cold rainy lands
vemos el trópico en las esquinas;
we see the tropics in the street corners
en los más antiguos bancos,
in the oldest banks
los edificios de columnas romanas
the buildings with Roman columns
de Lima o Buenos Aires;
of Lima or Buenos Aires;
pobrecitos los poetas del barroco: aquí todo está muy claro,
Poor little things, the poets of the baroque: here everything is very clear,
se pincha un botón en el centro de Londres
you push a button in the centre of London
y del apagón que resulta
and the resulting blackout
repercute en la ciudad de Punta Arenas
strikes in the town of Punta Arenas
donde tengo una flor;
where I have a lady flower;
no hay barcos que puedan atravesar la cordillera,
there are no ships which can cross the mountain range
ni dador de saltos en el desierto;
nor a giver of leaps in the desert
de lo que hoy he aprendido, resalta la palabra 'cuchara;'
from what I have learnt, arises the word 'spoon';
antes que el río deje de ser amable lecho rosas,
before the river stops being an soft bed of roses
después de limpiar transparentes oficinas de vidrios,
after cleaning transparent glass offices
pacientemente hago un nido calientito
I patiently make a little warm nest
donde me zambullo para encontrarme contigo.
where I dive to meet you
Poor little things, the poets of the baroque
Yo, chilenito, latinoamericano, por temor a queme agarren
I, a little chilean, latin american, for fear that they grab me
de una pierna, me aparté
by one leg, I moved aside
del demonio y de sus encantos terribles;
from the devil and his terrible enchantments;
pero no me distancié de sus brazos;
but I did not distance myself from his arms;
convertí
I transformed
el vino en agua, y el agua
the wine into water, and the water
en humito blanco,
into a wisp of white mist
y para saludar a mi amada
and to greet my love
en sus cumpleaños transformé piedras
on her birthday I will turn stones
en encendedores para iluminar mis cigarrillos;
into lighters to light my cigarettes;
eso es lo que pasa con los nuevos barredores
that is what happens to the new cleaners
de Europa, en estas frías tierras lluviosas
of Europe, in these cold rainy lands
vemos el trópico en las esquinas;
we see the tropics in the street corners
en los más antiguos bancos,
in the oldest banks
los edificios de columnas romanas
the buildings with Roman columns
de Lima o Buenos Aires;
of Lima or Buenos Aires;
pobrecitos los poetas del barroco: aquí todo está muy claro,
Poor little things, the poets of the baroque: here everything is very clear,
se pincha un botón en el centro de Londres
you push a button in the centre of London
y del apagón que resulta
and the resulting blackout
repercute en la ciudad de Punta Arenas
strikes in the town of Punta Arenas
donde tengo una flor;
where I have a lady flower;
no hay barcos que puedan atravesar la cordillera,
there are no ships which can cross the mountain range
ni dador de saltos en el desierto;
nor a giver of leaps in the desert
de lo que hoy he aprendido, resalta la palabra 'cuchara;'
from what I have learnt, arises the word 'spoon';
antes que el río deje de ser amable lecho rosas,
before the river stops being an soft bed of roses
después de limpiar transparentes oficinas de vidrios,
after cleaning transparent glass offices
pacientemente hago un nido calientito
I patiently make a little warm nest
donde me zambullo para encontrarme contigo.
where I dive to meet you
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