anti-translator Liz Werner, New Directions, 2004]Apropos of Nothing
WE HAVE TO PAVE OVER the mountain range
but the choice isn’t between cement and blood
as I thought in 1970
it must be paved over with violets
we have to plant violets
we have to cover everything with Violetas Parra
humility
equality
fraternity
we have to fill the world with Violetas
0
THE CHILEAN GOLDFINCH – in my book –
has an obligation to keep quiet
until he has regained his liberty
and not to think about anything but
freedom
the door of the dungeon
action, not just more delicious words
either he wins back the name “bird,”
that means love of liberty,
or he deserves to be called reptile
the last straw
is to start singing lyrics of the blind
as though in Chile there was nothing wrong
0
I NEARLY screwed myself over being so sincere
optimism got me nothing but trouble
for being compassionate – for being humble
the kick in the ass was double
That’s what you get for being a fool, it’s clear
That’s what happens when you preach the upstanding and good
Luckily everything’s changed as much as it possibly could
now that I steal
silver and gold patron-saint charms by the truckload
and eat for a hundred, instead of for one:
everybody respects me for real
now that I don’t ask for or show mercy
Across the river in la Chimba I’m the favorite son
now that I’ve lost my faith
I’m waiting for them
to canonize me any minute. Amen
0
A PARTY OF 17 DELINQUENTS
was surprised yesterday
in the area surrounding the Capital Building
transporting oranges
and a copy of the Holy Bible
3 of the extremists fled
not without first battling the police
who found themselves obliged to act in self-defense
the group of subversives was found dead
0
MAKE SURE TO SAY BROTHEL and not whorehouse
rather than prostitute, say escort
Our Lord
instead of Jesus Christ
Milky Way – not pie in the sky
the word makes the man
don’t ever call it sun
say king of stars
when you say Military Decree
you’ll see how your popularity soars
but say coup d’etat and they’ll look down their noses
it’s ugly to say wop
Italian citizen is your best choice
it’s more respectful
and much more Christian
yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the truth
the man who says steed instead of horse
already has his future guaranteed
0
POETRY POETRY it’s all poetry
we make poetry
even when we’re going to the bathroom
Christ of Elqui’s own words
to piss is to make poetry
as poetic as strumming a lute
or shitting poeticizing farting
and so we’ll just see what poetry is
Prophet of Elqui’s own words
0
DESTROY THIS PAPER after reading it
poetry is tailing you
and me too
it’s after all of us
