PLAZA DE ESPAÑA

 

The tired afternoon fell

upon a rhythm of palm

dressed in spring

human in dispersed voice. 

Up(wards), the moon round (in)

its silver &, in love, 

spins its round thanks

-between the courtship of harnesses

yawing starry light- 

by the gothic cypresses

that raise a peal.MARKET

 

Rivers of joy full of the exact

by this Stradivarius of only souls:

trampoline that launches us from the pole

of artifice to pristine contact

with the virgin & compact [persuasive argument or physical movement, like trasladar]

of naked Africa... Protocol 

of baskets & tiny tables [mesillas], [clots/lumps/blood], deceit,

yucca & solemn fraternity in the act

of emptying and filling [oneself]... between the laughter

drawing coins without currency. 

Rain of aged sun on the backs.

 

You must [hay que] lean out, by the skin of the day, 

onto that open custom/habit in merchandise:

a life running through the skirts.

 

PUNTA CRISTINA & PUNTA FERNANDA

 

Album of doves

that comes to coo

the sister couple

that sleeps in/of the sea. 

The air in the trees

starts to play

at being mime & comb,

kiss & madrigal.

Light. Calm. Silence.

Waves nothing more.

... & the two sisters,

wives of the sea.

 

(November 1967)

 

ELEGY IN STONE

 

You say my destiny when I die, 

one afternoon, beside the virgin fountain, 

to the edge

of the last memory...

I aspire that you say:

«Your life was a stone

like the song to the lark. Exactly.

You left it the same as the strange [ajena]

& the spark jumped-flint- 

of a hollow smile,

withering/marcid from the core of yourself.

It offered you firm life on a platter

of your friendship, full, yes, to the borders.

You had to tell it: "This is heavy",

& your hands gave out, beneath the bulk,

to the attraction of the earth.»

«Take my life -it said to you- beneath the meat of my easy smile.» 

So/then it was your life a dry leaf

in the arms of the wind...

 

You will also say: «On your shoulders the friendly heads tripped with ribs/edge/awn/chaff

of fierceness...»

 

Later you'll fling me

-like a stone- 

to the center of oblivion/forgetfulness.

& I will stay fulfilling the sentence/condemnation:

I will die standing like the trees.

I will leave planted in the earth

this  opaque that I am.

 

& i will stay standing,

                        numb

                                     alone,

                                           like a stone.