Poem
Aurelio Arturo
Word
The word surrounds us
we hear it
we touch it
its aroma surrounds us
a word that we say
and we model with the hand
fine and rough
and that
we forge
with the fire of blood
and the softness of the skin of our beloved ones
omnipresent word
with us from the dawn
and even before
in the dark water of the dream
or in the age from which we barely save
remnants of memories
of frights
of terrible tenderness
that goes with us
a silent monologue
a dialogue
a word we offer to our friends
a word we coin
for love for complaining
for flattery
a coin made of sun
or silver
or a false coin
in it we look at ourselves
to know who we are
our occupation
and race
it reflects
our self
our tribe
deep mirror
and when it is happiness and anguish
and the vast skies and the green foliage
and the earth that sings
then that flight of words
is poetry
can be poetry
© Translation: 2004, Raúl Jaime Gaviria
Translated with the collaboration of Edgardo Arturo and Nicolás Suescún
Translated with the collaboration of Edgardo Arturo and Nicolás Suescún
Palabra
Palabra
nos rodea la palabra
la oímos
la tocamos
su aroma nos circunda
palabra que decimos
y modelamos con la mano
fina y tosca
y que
forjamos
con el fuego de la sangre
y la suavidad de la piel de nuestras amadas
palabra omnipresente
con nosotros desde el alba
y aun antes
en el agua oscura del sueño
o en la edad de la que apenas salvamos
retazos de recuerdos
de espantos
de terribles ternuras
que va con nosotros
monólogo mudo
diálogo
la que ofrecemos a nuestros amigos
la que acuñamos
para el amor la queja
la lisonja
moneda de sol
o de plata
o moneda falsa
en ella nos miramos
para saber quiénes somos
nuestro oficio
y raza
refleja
nuestro yo
nuestra tribu
profundo espejo
y cuando es alegría y angustia
y los vastos cielos y el verde follaje
y la tierra que canta
entonces ese vuelo de palabras
es la poesía
puede ser la poesía
© 1972, Aurelio Arturo
From: Morada al sur
Publisher: Oveja Negra, Bogotá
From: Morada al sur
Publisher: Oveja Negra, Bogotá
Poems
Poems of Aurelio Arturo
Close
Word
The word surrounds us
we hear it
we touch it
its aroma surrounds us
a word that we say
and we model with the hand
fine and rough
and that
we forge
with the fire of blood
and the softness of the skin of our beloved ones
omnipresent word
with us from the dawn
and even before
in the dark water of the dream
or in the age from which we barely save
remnants of memories
of frights
of terrible tenderness
that goes with us
a silent monologue
a dialogue
a word we offer to our friends
a word we coin
for love for complaining
for flattery
a coin made of sun
or silver
or a false coin
in it we look at ourselves
to know who we are
our occupation
and race
it reflects
our self
our tribe
deep mirror
and when it is happiness and anguish
and the vast skies and the green foliage
and the earth that sings
then that flight of words
is poetry
can be poetry
© 2004, Raúl Jaime Gaviria
Translated with the collaboration of Edgardo Arturo and Nicolás Suescún
From: Morada al sur
Translated with the collaboration of Edgardo Arturo and Nicolás Suescún
From: Morada al sur
Word
The word surrounds us
we hear it
we touch it
its aroma surrounds us
a word that we say
and we model with the hand
fine and rough
and that
we forge
with the fire of blood
and the softness of the skin of our beloved ones
omnipresent word
with us from the dawn
and even before
in the dark water of the dream
or in the age from which we barely save
remnants of memories
of frights
of terrible tenderness
that goes with us
a silent monologue
a dialogue
a word we offer to our friends
a word we coin
for love for complaining
for flattery
a coin made of sun
or silver
or a false coin
in it we look at ourselves
to know who we are
our occupation
and race
it reflects
our self
our tribe
deep mirror
and when it is happiness and anguish
and the vast skies and the green foliage
and the earth that sings
then that flight of words
is poetry
can be poetry
© 2004, Raúl Jaime Gaviria
Translated with the collaboration of Edgardo Arturo and Nicolás Suescún
Translated with the collaboration of Edgardo Arturo and Nicolás Suescún
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