Poem
Raúl Zurita
5
The minuscule black claws and the brown fur.The white incisors are open, they are becoming
red, gently. Behind, on its neck, the hairs stuck
together with small patches of blood have gone
rigid like barbs. I imagine the knife entering the
neck, then the eyes. The knife moves up and
down like the white line of surf in the thick
darkness of the night. In my hands the little
body bends. Bruno bends, falls.
In the night the stars bend like the daisies and
the flecks of blood on the brown fur. The stalks
of the daisies scream as they bend. The death
blow and its almost weightless body bent
double. The gauze of white snow on the
mountains goes slightly red like the teeth
under the tiny nose.
The teeth of hundreds of Susanas go slightly red
beneath their lips, beneath the mouth of the night.
Ah, the sea, the sea beneath the night.
© Translation: 2004, William Rowe
From: INRI
From: INRI
5
De piepkleine zwarte klauwtjes en de bruine vacht.De witte geopende snijtanden kleuren zachtjesaan
rood. Meer naar achteren, op zijn nek, zijn de
haren, kleverig van kleine vlekjes bloed, hard
geworden als vlooien. In mijn gedachten glijdt
het mes de nek in, dan de ogen. Het mes gaat
omhoog en omlaag als de witte lijn van de
branding in de inktzwarte nacht. In de handen klapt
het kleine lichaam dubbel. Bruno klapt dubbel, valt.
De sterren in de nacht klappen dubbel zoals de
margrieten en de bloedspatten op de bruine
vacht. De stelen van de margrieten krijsen als ze
dubbelklappen. De nekslag en zijn bijna gewichtloze
lichaam dat dubbelklapt. Het gaas van de witte sneeuw
van de bergen kleurt lichtrood net als de
tanden onder het minuscule snuitje.
De tanden van honderden Susana’s kleuren lichtrood
onder haar lippen, onder de mond van de nacht.
Oh de zee, de zee onder de nacht.
5
Las minúsculas garras negras y el pelaje pardo.Los albos incisivos abiertos se van enrojeciendo
suavemente. Más atrás, sobre el cuello, los pelos
pegajosos de pequeñas manchitas de sangre se
han rigidizado como púas. Imagino el cuchillo
entrando en el cuello, luego en los ojos. El
cuchillo sube y baja como la línea blanca de la
rompiente en la noche cerrada. En las manos el
pequeño cuerpo se dobla. Bruno se dobla, cae.
Las estrellas en la noche se doblan como las
margaritas y las motas de sangre en el pelaje
pardo. Los tallos de las margaritas chillan al
doblarse. El culatazo y su cuerpo casi sin peso
doblándose. La gasa de la nieve blanca de
las montañas se enrojece levemente igual que
los dientes bajo el diminuto hocico.
Los dientes de cientos de Susana se enrojecen
levemente bajo sus labios, bajo la boca de la noche.
Ah el mar, el mar bajo la noche.
© 2004, Raul Zurita
From: INRI
Publisher: Editorial Visor, Madrid
From: INRI
Publisher: Editorial Visor, Madrid
Poems
Poems of Raúl Zurita
Close
5
The minuscule black claws and the brown fur.The white incisors are open, they are becoming
red, gently. Behind, on its neck, the hairs stuck
together with small patches of blood have gone
rigid like barbs. I imagine the knife entering the
neck, then the eyes. The knife moves up and
down like the white line of surf in the thick
darkness of the night. In my hands the little
body bends. Bruno bends, falls.
In the night the stars bend like the daisies and
the flecks of blood on the brown fur. The stalks
of the daisies scream as they bend. The death
blow and its almost weightless body bent
double. The gauze of white snow on the
mountains goes slightly red like the teeth
under the tiny nose.
The teeth of hundreds of Susanas go slightly red
beneath their lips, beneath the mouth of the night.
Ah, the sea, the sea beneath the night.
© 2004, William Rowe
From: INRI
From: INRI
5
The minuscule black claws and the brown fur.The white incisors are open, they are becoming
red, gently. Behind, on its neck, the hairs stuck
together with small patches of blood have gone
rigid like barbs. I imagine the knife entering the
neck, then the eyes. The knife moves up and
down like the white line of surf in the thick
darkness of the night. In my hands the little
body bends. Bruno bends, falls.
In the night the stars bend like the daisies and
the flecks of blood on the brown fur. The stalks
of the daisies scream as they bend. The death
blow and its almost weightless body bent
double. The gauze of white snow on the
mountains goes slightly red like the teeth
under the tiny nose.
The teeth of hundreds of Susanas go slightly red
beneath their lips, beneath the mouth of the night.
Ah, the sea, the sea beneath the night.
© 2004, William Rowe
From: INRI
From: INRI
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