3 Poems translated by Jacques Corrida
(translated from the Spanish by Michael Paul Hogan)
1
Consuela /
you are more knifelier than the knives
that Catherine-wheeled on Roman chariots.
Even dead men fossilized on rocks,
even their wives engraved on sunken ships,
fear the revolving scissors
of your arrogant desire.
2
There once was a man with a revolving head
who wore a top hat in the Bois de Boulogne
and carried a ballerina on his shoulder.
He never failed to throw coins
to the accordion players (although the sheen on the sleeves
of his ankle-length coat suggested, at least,
a genteel poverty).
The ballerina
danced off with a soldier. Or so I’m told.
3
Rita /
I am in love with you but I cannot tell you.
I can only tell you that the sunflower outside my bedroom window
is more beautiful
than the sun.
Jacques Corrida’s poems finely translated by Michael Paul
Hogan accords and rewards the original epiphanies of temporal
events in the right context whose voices sustain and entertains us in the vexing complicity of language.
i really enjoyed the first poem about Consuela. The metaphor is hilarious and sad at the same time. I’ve met some women like that before. The narrative of the 2nd poem is a fine change of pace in this 3 poem set–fantastical and compelling to read. The third poem touches on a theme we’ve all felt at some point in our life–wanting what we can’t have. But hell, maybe it’s reluctance to be rejected and instead focuses on lack of courage when love is concerned. Hmm. Loved these poems! Thanks for sharing!