A simple and stunning poem by the Colombian poetess Maria Mercedez Carranza. My clumsy translation is below:
Prayer
No more dawns or fashions,
no more light, no more tasks, no more instants.
Just dirt, dirt in the eyes,
between the mouth and the ears;
dirt upon the crushed chests;
dirt inside the dry womb;
dirt tight on the back;
down the length of half-open legs, dirt;
dirt between hands that were left there.
Dirt and oblivion.
Read Bogotá 2013
Just perfect.
It is always an extra expirience to see something both translated and in the original form – it is like a double goodness.
Thank you very much for sharing this!
I will try to do more then. I just am always in doubt of my translations!
I found it to be good, only thing is that in my personal interprentation and poem life, I do not see the “dirt” as something bad, but good, nurturing, like Earth, but that is just a personal vision🙂
Pingback: Super Sweet Blogging Award | in my hands
I do agree with the use of dirt; Earth in English is too wholesome where as here she refers to the putrid nature and deafening fatality of being inanimate – death becomes you !
And you!
x
I’ve nominated you for the Super Sweet Blogging Award.
My blog http://meltwaterblog.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/super-sweet-blogging-award/
Thanks so much!