Poem
Raúl Henao
TO LOSE ONE’S HEAD
While staring at the chickengoing round in the roaster
I became aware that in spite of my every effort
I could not close my mouth
Fortunately this had gone unheeded
by the people who at that hour were accustomed
to stroll along the street
When someone, their curiosity aroused, stopped
at my side and had a look
Then with the air of a circus trainer who puts
his head in the lion’s mouth
He introduced his into my mouth and then
extracted in without seeming to suffer any damage
Only in the embarrassed expression on his face
Could you guess that he had just lost his head
© Translation: 1998, Raúl Henao
From: La vida a la Carta
From: La vida a la Carta
PERDER LA CABEZA
PERDER LA CABEZA
Mientras miraba fijamente las vueltas que dabaun pollo en el asador
Advertí que a pesar de poner todo empeño de mi
parte no podía cerrar la boca
Afortunadamente había pasado desapercibido para
las personas que a esa hora acostumbran pasearse
a lo largo de la calle
Cuando tocado por la curiosidad alguien se detuvo
a mi lado y echó una ojeada
Luego con el aire del domador de circo que mete
su cabeza en la boca de un león
Introdujo la suya en mi boca y volvió a sacarla
al parecer sin ningún desperfecto
Sólo en la expresión avergonzada de su rostro se
adivinaba que acababa de perder la cabeza.
© 1998, Raúl Henao
From: La vida a la Carta
Publisher: Ediciones Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín,
From: La vida a la Carta
Publisher: Ediciones Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín,
Poems
Poems of Raúl Henao
Close
TO LOSE ONE’S HEAD
While staring at the chickengoing round in the roaster
I became aware that in spite of my every effort
I could not close my mouth
Fortunately this had gone unheeded
by the people who at that hour were accustomed
to stroll along the street
When someone, their curiosity aroused, stopped
at my side and had a look
Then with the air of a circus trainer who puts
his head in the lion’s mouth
He introduced his into my mouth and then
extracted in without seeming to suffer any damage
Only in the embarrassed expression on his face
Could you guess that he had just lost his head
© 1998, Raúl Henao
From: La vida a la Carta
From: La vida a la Carta
TO LOSE ONE’S HEAD
While staring at the chickengoing round in the roaster
I became aware that in spite of my every effort
I could not close my mouth
Fortunately this had gone unheeded
by the people who at that hour were accustomed
to stroll along the street
When someone, their curiosity aroused, stopped
at my side and had a look
Then with the air of a circus trainer who puts
his head in the lion’s mouth
He introduced his into my mouth and then
extracted in without seeming to suffer any damage
Only in the embarrassed expression on his face
Could you guess that he had just lost his head
© 1998, Raúl Henao
From: La vida a la Carta
From: La vida a la Carta
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