Poem
Eduardo Gómez
RESTORATION OF THE WORD
Why write small verseswhen the world is so vast
and the uproar of cities drowns out the music?
In this battle of giants
one needs long-range arms.
In this duel to the death
songs enrapture or lull to sleep.
The blood of generations, of peoples
is at stake
and a world into which infinite mankind
can be born.
Too much is at stake
to risk it all for the chance of words.
It is time to glorify other men and other deeds
It is time to look for situations
where words are necessary
and to cohabit with those
for whom the word is liberation.
Only words that endanger
the power of tyrants and the gods
are worthy of being pronounced or written.
© Translation: 2008, Nicolás Suescún
RESTAURACION DE LA PALABRA
RESTAURACION DE LA PALABRA
¿Para qué escribir pequeños versoscuando el mundo es tan vasto
y el estruendo de las ciudades ahoga la música?
En esta lucha de gigantes
se necesitan armas de vasto alcance.
En este duelo a muerte
las canciones embriagan o adormecen.
Está en juego la sangre de generaciones
y de pueblos
y un mundo abierto al hombre infinito
por nacer.
Está en juego demasiado
para arriesgarlo todo solamente al azar de la palabra.
Es hora de glorificar a otros hombres y otros hechos
Es hora de buscar situaciones
en donde la palabra sea necesaria
y de convivir con aquellos
para quienes la palabra es liberación.
Solamente la palabra que ponga en peligro el
poder de los tiranos y los dioses
es digna de ser pronunciada o escrita.
© 1962, Eduardo Gómez
From: Restauración de la palabra
Publisher: Antares-Tercer Mundo, Bogotá
From: Restauración de la palabra
Publisher: Antares-Tercer Mundo, Bogotá
Poems
Poems of Eduardo Gómez
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RESTORATION OF THE WORD
Why write small verseswhen the world is so vast
and the uproar of cities drowns out the music?
In this battle of giants
one needs long-range arms.
In this duel to the death
songs enrapture or lull to sleep.
The blood of generations, of peoples
is at stake
and a world into which infinite mankind
can be born.
Too much is at stake
to risk it all for the chance of words.
It is time to glorify other men and other deeds
It is time to look for situations
where words are necessary
and to cohabit with those
for whom the word is liberation.
Only words that endanger
the power of tyrants and the gods
are worthy of being pronounced or written.
© 2008, Nicolás Suescún
From: Restauración de la palabra
From: Restauración de la palabra
RESTORATION OF THE WORD
Why write small verseswhen the world is so vast
and the uproar of cities drowns out the music?
In this battle of giants
one needs long-range arms.
In this duel to the death
songs enrapture or lull to sleep.
The blood of generations, of peoples
is at stake
and a world into which infinite mankind
can be born.
Too much is at stake
to risk it all for the chance of words.
It is time to glorify other men and other deeds
It is time to look for situations
where words are necessary
and to cohabit with those
for whom the word is liberation.
Only words that endanger
the power of tyrants and the gods
are worthy of being pronounced or written.
© 2008, Nicolás Suescún
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