SECTION FIFTEEN
POETRY PAGE TWO

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COLUMN SEVENTY-FIVE, SEPTEMBER 1, 2002
(Copyright © 2002 Al Aronowitz


(Photo by Carlos Arturo Puerta)

[From Colombia's celebrated poet, Raúl Henao of Medellin, here's another poem in Spanish, accompanied by its English translation, both from Raúl's La vida a la carta or Life a la carte.]

AUTORRETRATO

Ah, mi rostro estúpido como la maleza  

Prefiero el chirrido del grillo al canto
de los pájaros  

la eternidad al tiempo.  

Los armarios se desarman a mi paso
Un muerto de risa se sienta cada noche
a mi mes.

El fantasma de la libertad me visita
al amanecer
 

golpea con sus nudillos los cristales
de mi sueño.  

Las manos de la ausente tan pálidas bajo
la almohada.
 

Leo los periódicos del domingo (esto sin
comentarios)
 

¡Qué alegre! moriré descorchado como
una botella de champaña  ##

* * *  

SELF PORTRAIT

Oh, my face is as stupid as undergrowth  

I prefer the chirping of crickets to
the song of birds

Eternity to time  

Wardrobes fall to pieces as I pass
Each night a man that died laughing
Sits at my table

The phantom of liberty visits me at dawn

I knock at the windows of my dreams

Absent hands seem pale under the pillow

I read the sunday papers (no comment)

What happiness!  I shall die being uncorked

Like a bottle of champagne

(Translated by Philip West)  ##

 * * *

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