Sara Uribe
Instructions for counting the dead
First, the dates, like the names, are the most important.
The name, even more than the caliber of the bullets.
Second, sit in front of a monitor. Search out the crime
news from all the newspapers online. Preserve the
memory of those who have died.
Third, count both innocent and guilty,
killers, children, soldiers, civilians,
mayors, migrants, vendors, kidnappers,
police.
Count them all.
Name them all so as to say: this body
could be mine.
The body of one of my own.
So as not to forget that all the bodies without names
are our lost bodies.
My name is Antígona González and I am searching among the
dead for the corpse of my brother.
From: Antígone González
Publisher: Les Figues Press, , 2016
Instructies voor het tellen van doden
Eén, de data, en de namen, zijn het allerbelangrijkst.
De naam meer nog dan het kaliber van de kogels.
Twee, voor een monitor gaan zitten. In alle online
kranten naar rampberichten zoeken. De herinnering
bewaren aan degenen die zijn gestorven.
Drie, onschuldigen en schuldigen tellen,
huurmoordenaars, kinderen, soldaten, burgers,
burgemeesters, migranten, verkopers, ontvoerders,
politieagenten.
Iedereen tellen.
Iedereen noemen om te zeggen: dit lichaam zou
het mijne kunnen zijn.
Het lichaam van een van de mijnen.
Om niet te vergeten dat al die naamloze lichamen
onze verloren lichamen zijn.
Ik heet Antígona González en ik zoek tussen de doden
naar het lijk van mijn broer.
Publisher: 2022, Voor het eerst gepubliceerd op PoetryInternational.com,
Instrucciones para contar muertos
Uno, las fechas, como los nombres, son lo más
importante. El nombre por encima del calibre de
las balas.
Dos, sentarse frente a un monitor. Buscar la nota
roja de todos los periódicos en línea. Mantener la
memoria de quienes han muerto.
Tres, contar inocentes y culpables, sicarios, niños,
militares, civiles, presidentes municipales,
migrantes, vendedores, secuestradores, policías.
Contarlos a todos.
Nombrarlos a todos para decir: este cuerpo podría
ser el mío.
El cuerpo de uno de los míos.
Para no olvidar que todos los cuerpos sin nombre
son nuestros cuerpos perdidos.
Me llamo Antígona González y busco entre los
muertos el cadáver de mi hermano.
From: Antígona González
Publisher: Sur+ Ediciones,
Instructions for counting the dead
First, the dates, like the names, are the most important.
The name, even more than the caliber of the bullets.
Second, sit in front of a monitor. Search out the crime
news from all the newspapers online. Preserve the
memory of those who have died.
Third, count both innocent and guilty,
killers, children, soldiers, civilians,
mayors, migrants, vendors, kidnappers,
police.
Count them all.
Name them all so as to say: this body
could be mine.
The body of one of my own.
So as not to forget that all the bodies without names
are our lost bodies.
My name is Antígona González and I am searching among the
dead for the corpse of my brother.
From: Antígone González
Publisher: 2016, Les Figues Press,
Instructions for counting the dead
First, the dates, like the names, are the most important.
The name, even more than the caliber of the bullets.
Second, sit in front of a monitor. Search out the crime
news from all the newspapers online. Preserve the
memory of those who have died.
Third, count both innocent and guilty,
killers, children, soldiers, civilians,
mayors, migrants, vendors, kidnappers,
police.
Count them all.
Name them all so as to say: this body
could be mine.
The body of one of my own.
So as not to forget that all the bodies without names
are our lost bodies.
My name is Antígona González and I am searching among the
dead for the corpse of my brother.
From: Antígone González
Publisher: 2016, Les Figues Press,