Poem
Juan Manuel Roca
A Statue for No One
In bronze. Let it be in bronze the statue of No One. With pedestal. Let it be of marble, its pedestal. In a bright-lit square we shall put up his monument. No One will have the green epaulettes that pigeons will leave on his shoulders.In the absence of heroes we could adopt him as the city standard bearer, front man in the battles of nothing. Historians and academics will take care of the necessary details of his life. Couples will meet beneath an equestrian shadow – since heroes take pleasure in horses – in the big square that we’ll give a Chirico touch.
It will be seemly to adorn the statue with out-of-season flowers: sunflowers in stone and metal orchids.
In bronze. Let it be in bronze the statue of No One, in homage to the just man, to the non-existent gentleman.
© Translation: 2008, Julie Wark
UNA ESTATUA PARA NADIE
UNA ESTATUA PARA NADIE
En bronce. Que sea en bronce la estatua de Nadie. Con pedestal. Que sea en mármol su pedestal. En una plaza luminosa erigiremos su monumento. Nadie tendrá las verdes charreteras que dejen en sus hombros las palomas.A falta de héroes podríamos adoptarlo como portaestandarte de la ciudad, abanderado en las batallas de la nada. Historiadores y académicos se encargarán de los detalles necesarios a su vida. Las parejas se citarán bajo una sombra ecuestre –como placen a los héroes los caballos– en la gran plaza a la que daremos un toque de Chirico.
Vendrá bien adornar la estatua con flores que no son de temporada: girasoles de la piedra, orquídeas de metal.
En bronce. Que sea en bronce la estatua de Nadie, homenaje al hombre justo, al señor inexistente.
© 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
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Poems of Juan Manuel Roca
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A Statue for No One
In bronze. Let it be in bronze the statue of No One. With pedestal. Let it be of marble, its pedestal. In a bright-lit square we shall put up his monument. No One will have the green epaulettes that pigeons will leave on his shoulders.In the absence of heroes we could adopt him as the city standard bearer, front man in the battles of nothing. Historians and academics will take care of the necessary details of his life. Couples will meet beneath an equestrian shadow – since heroes take pleasure in horses – in the big square that we’ll give a Chirico touch.
It will be seemly to adorn the statue with out-of-season flowers: sunflowers in stone and metal orchids.
In bronze. Let it be in bronze the statue of No One, in homage to the just man, to the non-existent gentleman.
© 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
A Statue for No One
In bronze. Let it be in bronze the statue of No One. With pedestal. Let it be of marble, its pedestal. In a bright-lit square we shall put up his monument. No One will have the green epaulettes that pigeons will leave on his shoulders.In the absence of heroes we could adopt him as the city standard bearer, front man in the battles of nothing. Historians and academics will take care of the necessary details of his life. Couples will meet beneath an equestrian shadow – since heroes take pleasure in horses – in the big square that we’ll give a Chirico touch.
It will be seemly to adorn the statue with out-of-season flowers: sunflowers in stone and metal orchids.
In bronze. Let it be in bronze the statue of No One, in homage to the just man, to the non-existent gentleman.
© 2008, Julie Wark
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