Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Tallulah Flores

IF THE RIVER IS NAMED

I have absolutely nothing with which
to equal these handsome men
who naively assault
the rusted tongue of water with their bodies.

Fishermen are small rivers within the river.
Geometries tattoed by the filth of this century
passing and staying in each port,
on each shore colored by water:
a green, an ochre, a red with the certainty
that only things alive are used to giving
and everything so intact.

The black river, intact,
intact the seaman between my legs
demented and obstinate seaweed
breathing tiredly when the sun throws itself
into shadow
turning the landscape into another exercise
slanted by the ships of distant oceans.

I do not want this river to drown in its waters.
I do not want it to lose its memory and mire.
I do not want it to play at being poor and
that everything be reduced to the old taste for a spectacle:
to the image of some remembered cinema.

SI SE NOMBRA EL RIO

SI SE NOMBRA EL RIO

No poseo absolutamente nada
que pueda igualarme a estos hombres hermosos
que asaltan ingenuos
la lengua oxidada del agua con sus cuerpos.

Los pescadores son ríos pequeños en el río.
Geometrías tatuadas por el mugre de este siglo
que pasa y permanece en cada puerto,
en cada orilla coloreada por el agua:
un verde, un ocre, un rojo en la certeza
que sólo suelen dar las cosas vivas
y todo tan intacto.

Intacto el negro río
y el marino intacto entre mis piernas
dementes y obstinadas algas
que respiran cansadas cuando el sol se lanza
en sombra
haciendo otro ejercicio del paisaje
inclinado por buques de océanos distantes.

No quiero que este río se ahogue entre sus aguas.
No quiero que pierda la memoria y se detenga en lodo.
No quiero que juegue a la pobreza y
que todo se reduzca a la antigua afición de un espectáculo:
a la imagen de algún cine recordado.
Close

IF THE RIVER IS NAMED

I have absolutely nothing with which
to equal these handsome men
who naively assault
the rusted tongue of water with their bodies.

Fishermen are small rivers within the river.
Geometries tattoed by the filth of this century
passing and staying in each port,
on each shore colored by water:
a green, an ochre, a red with the certainty
that only things alive are used to giving
and everything so intact.

The black river, intact,
intact the seaman between my legs
demented and obstinate seaweed
breathing tiredly when the sun throws itself
into shadow
turning the landscape into another exercise
slanted by the ships of distant oceans.

I do not want this river to drown in its waters.
I do not want it to lose its memory and mire.
I do not want it to play at being poor and
that everything be reduced to the old taste for a spectacle:
to the image of some remembered cinema.

IF THE RIVER IS NAMED

I have absolutely nothing with which
to equal these handsome men
who naively assault
the rusted tongue of water with their bodies.

Fishermen are small rivers within the river.
Geometries tattoed by the filth of this century
passing and staying in each port,
on each shore colored by water:
a green, an ochre, a red with the certainty
that only things alive are used to giving
and everything so intact.

The black river, intact,
intact the seaman between my legs
demented and obstinate seaweed
breathing tiredly when the sun throws itself
into shadow
turning the landscape into another exercise
slanted by the ships of distant oceans.

I do not want this river to drown in its waters.
I do not want it to lose its memory and mire.
I do not want it to play at being poor and
that everything be reduced to the old taste for a spectacle:
to the image of some remembered cinema.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère