Poem
Juan Manuel Roca
BIOGRAPHY OF NO ONE
It is notable, the glory of No One: he had no ancestors under the sun, under the rain, has set no roots in East or West. Not son of No One, not grandson of No One, not father of No One, small consul of oblivion.Do you see a void in the family photo, a hole, a gap among respectable relations? It is
No One, with no trace and no descent.
It is notable, the glory of No One before the first morning of history, precursor of men
who today are grass, of fathers of other fathers who are candles with no wick.
Let us celebrate No One who permits us to presume we are Someone.
© Translation: 2008, Julie Wark
BIOGRAFÍA DE NADIE
BIOGRAFÍA DE NADIE
Es notable la gloria de Nadie: no tuvo antepasados bajo el sol, bajo la lluvia, no tiene raigambre en Oriente ni Occidente. Ni hijo de Nadie, ni nieto de Nadie, ni padre de Nadie, pequeño cónsul del olvido.¿Ven un vacío en la foto familiar, un hueco, un espacio entre la respetable parentela? Es Nadie, si rastro y si linaje.
Es notable la gloria de Nadie antes de la primera mañana de la historia, precursor de hombres que hoy son hierba, de padres de otros padres que son velas sin pabilo.
Festejemos a Nadie que nos permite presumir que somos Alguien.
© 2005, Juan Manuel Roca
From: Las Hipotesis de Nadie
Publisher: Colección de poesía Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
This poem is published here because it was specially selected by Juan Manuel Roca to be read at the Poetry International Festival Rotterdam 2008.
From: Las Hipotesis de Nadie
Publisher: Colección de poesía Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
Poems
Poems of Juan Manuel Roca
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BIOGRAPHY OF NO ONE
It is notable, the glory of No One: he had no ancestors under the sun, under the rain, has set no roots in East or West. Not son of No One, not grandson of No One, not father of No One, small consul of oblivion.Do you see a void in the family photo, a hole, a gap among respectable relations? It is
No One, with no trace and no descent.
It is notable, the glory of No One before the first morning of history, precursor of men
who today are grass, of fathers of other fathers who are candles with no wick.
Let us celebrate No One who permits us to presume we are Someone.
© 2008, Julie Wark
From: Las Hipotesis de Nadie
This poem is published here because it was specially selected by Juan Manuel Roca to be read at the Poetry International Festival Rotterdam 2008.
From: Las Hipotesis de Nadie
BIOGRAPHY OF NO ONE
It is notable, the glory of No One: he had no ancestors under the sun, under the rain, has set no roots in East or West. Not son of No One, not grandson of No One, not father of No One, small consul of oblivion.Do you see a void in the family photo, a hole, a gap among respectable relations? It is
No One, with no trace and no descent.
It is notable, the glory of No One before the first morning of history, precursor of men
who today are grass, of fathers of other fathers who are candles with no wick.
Let us celebrate No One who permits us to presume we are Someone.
© 2008, Julie Wark
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