Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Luis Vidales

THE TWO CATS

The cat and its shadow. They are two cats – but it is really only one. For me, this explains
the divinity. The shadow is a more enigmatic cat. It is more of a cat. All cats should be like
this. Smeared on the wall. It would be nicer to see them walk. But then I could not use an
arch-backed cat as a bookmark for where I’ve read up to. But I could stop it on the wall and
under it fix a little almanac. An almanac is a small treatise on philosophy. I have attempted
a definition. It is so dangerous! But – fortunately for me – the cat has undone my ideas – in
a leap – and it has lain down on the armchair – on its shadow.

From a bundle of fur – which looks as if a woman had left it on the armchair – rises a light,
hoarse music.    

Now there is absolute silence. I have seen the light music fade in the air like a colour.

Los dos gatos

Los dos gatos

El  gato y su sombra. Son dos gatos – pero en realidad no es más que uno. Esto me explica
la divinidad. La sombra es un gato más enigmático. Es más gato. Así debieran ser todos los
gatos. Untados a la pared. Sería bellos verlos andar. Entonces tampoco podría dejar un gato
arqueado de señal hasta donde he leído. Pero podría detenerlo en la pared y fijarle debajo
un tomito de almanaque. Un almanaque es un pequeño tratado de filosofía. He intentado
hacer una definición. ¡Es tan peligroso! Pero – afortunadamente para mí – el gato ha
desbaratado mis ideas – de un salto – y se ha echado en la poltrona – sobre su sombra.

De un envoltorio de piel – que parece como si una mujer lo hubiera dejado sobre la
poltrona – sube una musiquilla constipada.

Ahora todo queda en silencio. He visto la musiquilla desteñirse en el aire como un color.
Close

THE TWO CATS

The cat and its shadow. They are two cats – but it is really only one. For me, this explains
the divinity. The shadow is a more enigmatic cat. It is more of a cat. All cats should be like
this. Smeared on the wall. It would be nicer to see them walk. But then I could not use an
arch-backed cat as a bookmark for where I’ve read up to. But I could stop it on the wall and
under it fix a little almanac. An almanac is a small treatise on philosophy. I have attempted
a definition. It is so dangerous! But – fortunately for me – the cat has undone my ideas – in
a leap – and it has lain down on the armchair – on its shadow.

From a bundle of fur – which looks as if a woman had left it on the armchair – rises a light,
hoarse music.    

Now there is absolute silence. I have seen the light music fade in the air like a colour.

THE TWO CATS

The cat and its shadow. They are two cats – but it is really only one. For me, this explains
the divinity. The shadow is a more enigmatic cat. It is more of a cat. All cats should be like
this. Smeared on the wall. It would be nicer to see them walk. But then I could not use an
arch-backed cat as a bookmark for where I’ve read up to. But I could stop it on the wall and
under it fix a little almanac. An almanac is a small treatise on philosophy. I have attempted
a definition. It is so dangerous! But – fortunately for me – the cat has undone my ideas – in
a leap – and it has lain down on the armchair – on its shadow.

From a bundle of fur – which looks as if a woman had left it on the armchair – rises a light,
hoarse music.    

Now there is absolute silence. I have seen the light music fade in the air like a colour.
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Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
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Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
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Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
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