Pregón

Rolling her cart across the cobblestones she sang: Pie lady! Pie lady! Sweet and savory pies For supper or dessert! This was in New Orleans the other day, but in Madrid when I was a child there were many such street vendors’ songs. I deciphered the rag man’s song and we memorized it, but there … More Pregón

El niño Stanton

Do you like me? Yes, and you? Yes, yes. Cuando me quedo solo me quedan todavía tus diez años, los tres caballos ciegos, tus quince rostros con el rostro de la pedrada y las fiebres pequeñas heladas sobre las hojas del maíz. Stanton, hijo mío, Stanton. A las doce de la noche el cáncer salía … More El niño Stanton

De vida en vida

Hermoso paraíso de salud. In Reeducation I would look at other people going about their lives and think: they are not less imperfect, or more guilty than I, yet they are not being interrogated, and they clearly feel free. I admired them as they swung their shoulders, looked forward and sideways, and walked right along. … More De vida en vida

Un día sobresale

UN DIA SOBRESALE De lo sonoro salen números, números moribundos y cifras con estiércol, rayos humedecidos y relámpagos sucios. De lo sonoro, creciendo, cuando la noche sale sola, como reciente viuda, como paloma o amapola o beso, y sus maravillosas estrellas se dilatan. En lo sonoro la luz se verifica: las vocales se inundan, el … More Un día sobresale

Arctic Music

Vicente Huidobro’s Poemas árticos, now set to music. V.H. is very amusing and offers an axiom for musicians: “Birds do not sing well.” A famous Arctic Poem is PAQUEBOT, where the mail boat (or boat mail) cuts the horizon in two. Axé.

Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Patricia Barone

The Glorified Body – a fascinating poem. “Though I’m old and sick,” said Uncle Ned, postincision, half his stomach gone, “in God’s eye, I’m just a baby.” He looks forward to his new body, his second coming together–successful, not like this dying from the inside out, ending in the rotten sweet smell of cancer, antimatter … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Patricia Barone