Galego
English
De Urania (ed. 2016)
From Urania (ed. 2016)
Isto é un souto. No souto unha muller. A muller le, pensa.
Un libro ou códice miniado.
Un libro ou códice miniado.
In a chestnut wood. In the wood, a woman. The woman reads, thinks.
A book or illuminated codex.
A book or illuminated codex.
No códice unha muller. Na súa man un dos extremos da corda que no seu outro extremo abrangue o pescozo de Rosana que vai e pasta por tras desta muller.
In the codex, a woman. In her hand one end of the cord whose other end encircles the neck of Rosanna who ambles and grazes behind the woman.
No códice, por riba das bermas, monte erguéndose como de penedos; entre os penedos, touzas.
In the codex, above the berms, the mountain looms as towering crags; between rock towers, strewn stones.
No códice, carballos, o ceo azul por entre as árbores,
expandíndose por entre as pólas núas dos carballos.
expandíndose por entre as pólas núas dos carballos.
In the codex, oaks, blue sky through trees,
expanding between the bare oak branches.
expanding between the bare oak branches.
Lembras
cando os corvos viñan beber ao río?
cando os corvos viñan beber ao río?
Do you remember
when crows came to drink at the river?
when crows came to drink at the river?
A muller está sentada. No códice, paisaxe de penedas, no fondo da paisaxe un home a contemplar os ceos, nos ceos n corvo «que fora el alimentados polos corvos que os corvos traían nos seus bicos pan, pan, por entre nubes que habitaría no fondo daquel abismo, apenedado».
The woman is seated. In the codex, landscape of looming crags, deep in it a man contemplates the sky, in the sky a crow “it was he who’d been nourished by crows bringing bread in their beaks, bread, through the clouds
to where he lived at the foot of that rugged abyss.”
to where he lived at the foot of that rugged abyss.”
Ben puido ser que naqueloutra paisaxe pintara Rafael un Mesías en triángulo perfectísimo: transfigurado.
It could well be that in such a landscape Raphael painted a Messiah as most perfect triangle: transfigured.
A muller le, pensa. Paisaxe de penedos. Mesmo na beira
dos camiños, caendo por riba da beira dos camiños.
Dos noiros
nubes.
dos camiños, caendo por riba da beira dos camiños.
Dos noiros
nubes.
The woman reads, thinks. Craggy cliffs towering. Even at the brink
of the road, plunking onto the shoulder.
From the embankments/cutbanks
clouds.
of the road, plunking onto the shoulder.
From the embankments/cutbanks
clouds.
---------------------------------------------
De Heloísa (Espiral Maior, 1994)
for Sabela R. Oxea
Para Sabela R. Oxea
In my dream I’m no April lass
no princess of Aquitaine
skating eludes me
I have no laud
Saint Gudula I am not
nor Ilduara Eriz.
no princess of Aquitaine
skating eludes me
I have no laud
Saint Gudula I am not
nor Ilduara Eriz.
No meu soño non son a mociña de abril
non son a princesa de Aquitánia
non sei patinar
non teño laúde
non son Santa Gúdula
non son Ilduara Eriz.
non son a princesa de Aquitánia
non sei patinar
non teño laúde
non son Santa Gúdula
non son Ilduara Eriz.
No one’s in the forest stalking boar
no one will adorn their brow with pheasant emerald.
no one will adorn their brow with pheasant emerald.
Ninguén caza no bosque o xabarin
ninguén adornará a testa coa esmeralda do faisán.
ninguén adornará a testa coa esmeralda do faisán.
In my writing I’m astronaut on a summer night
(astronaut in simulated orbit)
my ribs sprout algae
my spacesuit a thousand sparrows.
(astronaut in simulated orbit)
my ribs sprout algae
my spacesuit a thousand sparrows.
Na miña escrita son astronauta nunha noite de verán
(astronauta en circuíto simulado)
do meu costado brotan algas
do meu escafandro un milleiro de pardaus.
(astronauta en circuíto simulado)
do meu costado brotan algas
do meu escafandro un milleiro de pardaus.
I’m no bird
nor wake that crosses the river.
nor wake that crosses the river.
Non son ave
nen estela que cruza o rio.
nen estela que cruza o rio.
---------------------------------------------
De Heloísa (1994)
A dream
industrial landscape
satyrs
shepherdesses.
Heroism and luxury
Marcelle
industrial landscape
satyrs
shepherdesses.
Heroism and luxury
Marcelle
Un soño
paisaxe industrial
sátiros
pastoras.
Heroísmo e luxúria
Marcelle
paisaxe industrial
sátiros
pastoras.
Heroísmo e luxúria
Marcelle
The fruit that sustains Persephone is hell
A froita que sostén Perséfone é o inferno
so the imagining of hell consists in perceiving it five times over
through all five senses
through all five senses
asi a imaxinación do inferno consiste en apercibi-lo cinco veces seguidas
por cada un dos cinco sentidos
por cada un dos cinco sentidos
see the glowing bodies
five times
hear the shrieks of aching souls
five times
smell the sewer of the abyss
five times
taste the bitterness of tears
five times
five times
hear the shrieks of aching souls
five times
smell the sewer of the abyss
five times
taste the bitterness of tears
five times
ver os corpos. incandescentes
cinco veces
ouvir os gritos das ánimas penadas
cinco veces
cheirar a cloaca do abismo
cinco veces
saborear o amargor das lágrimas
cinco veces
cinco veces
ouvir os gritos das ánimas penadas
cinco veces
cheirar a cloaca do abismo
cinco veces
saborear o amargor das lágrimas
cinco veces
Myth changes
produces discards
produces discards
O mito cámbia
produz desperdícios
produz desperdícios
but don’t start thinking you’re a god
the cardial of Byron
the poems of Ritsos
the cardial of Byron
the poems of Ritsos
pero non confundir-te un deus
o cárdio de Byron
os versos de Ritsos
o cárdio de Byron
os versos de Ritsos
that jolt awake when I knew that darkness is all that is possible.
ese espertar cando souben que a escuridade era o único posíbel.
De Fascinio (2010)
From Fascinio (2010)
para Estrela Piñeiro
for Estrela Piñeiro
…AS MULLERES continúan logo de facer as correspondentes estivadas carrexando leña para encher as pías, a baixar do monte toradas de piñeiro, contribúindo co seu traballo ás tarefas da xávega, os rapaces maioritariamente descalzos, coas cabezas rasuradas e na súa totalidade presentan sinal de desnutrición...
… THE WOMEN continue their assigned work in the cannery, from keeping the woodpile stacked to lugging pine logs from the mountain, contributing their efforts to the tasks of the dragnet sardine fishers, boys mostly barefoot, with heads shaved and overall showing signs of malnutrition...
...dando por perdidos os subministros iñiciase a busca da fragata co fin de obter un novo cargamento de armas e municións...
...with the stores given up for lost, the search for the frigate began so as load up again on weapons and ammunition...
Na verde boca
caolín, wólfram, a fragata Libelly, os indios Enmerillon, a reveladora, Deus,
Spútnik
caolín, wólfram, a fragata Libelly, os indios Enmerillon, a reveladora, Deus,
Spútnik
In the green mouth
kaolin, wolfram, the frigate Lively, the Enmerillon people, she-the-revealer, God,
Sputnik
kaolin, wolfram, the frigate Lively, the Enmerillon people, she-the-revealer, God,
Sputnik
esa Australia abaneada polo vento que me tolea nas bermas do soño
as anoréxicas trinta santas da Idade Media
a cade de nais muller
o matricidio
as anoréxicas trinta santas da Idade Media
a cade de nais muller
o matricidio
the wind-bent Australian tree1 that drives me crazy on the brink of dream
the thirty anorexic Medieval women saints
the succession of mother-women
matricide
the thirty anorexic Medieval women saints
the succession of mother-women
matricide
mostrando o ouro no índice, no pulso
gold flashing on the index finger, on the wrist
setenta postas de sol, cinco mil castros, trescentas mámoas abeizoan o teu corpo
seventy sunsets, 5000 hill-forts, 300 Neolithic grave-mounds caress your body
desandas, cara atrás camiñas o sentido
you turn around, head back along the path
todos os teitos de colmo
bimbastro, bagalustre, ardora
bimbastro, bagalustre, ardora
all the thatched roofs
shadoof, phosphorescence, seagleam
shadoof, phosphorescence, seagleam
celestes son as augas
celestial are the waters
ferve riza malla ceifa furna GALLAECIA
ubérrima de estrelas!
sirte
ubérrima de estrelas!
sirte
roil coil mesh harvest sea-cave GALLAECIA
fecundity of stars!
sandbar
fecundity of stars!
sandbar
o descenso aos ínferos
the descent into hell
Faber-Castell
Faber-Castell
Irmgard Möller
Irmgard Möller
Limasol
Limassol
Antioquía.
Antioch.
De Nínive (1996)
---------------------------------------------
OUTSIDE
Tiven que aprender o americano coma se dunha lingua estranxeira
se tratase
From Nínive (1996)
pero ela pasara a súa nenez na Galiza falando en español
OUTSIDE
unha combinación do español correcto das oficinas
co español imposíbel das señoras
co español imposíbel das señoras
I had to learn American just like a foreign language
lingua nativa / desmemoria
vernáculo / todo era vernáculo
vernáculo / todo era vernáculo
but she’d spent her childhood in Galicia speaking Spanish
a sensación que todo un pobo pode ter
de atoparse fóra de lugar
ao respecto da súa común lingua nativa
de atoparse fóra de lugar
ao respecto da súa común lingua nativa
a combo of correct office Spanish
mixed with the impossible Spanish of ladies
mixed with the impossible Spanish of ladies
que había nela de poético?
nacera aquí
abandonara o seu idioma
queixábase
–gústame o lugar, para un mes, no verao
no inverno aquí non hai nada
aquí vas en bicicleta e es unha pendanga
vas en camiseta e es unha pendanga
nacera aquí
abandonara o seu idioma
queixábase
–gústame o lugar, para un mes, no verao
no inverno aquí non hai nada
aquí vas en bicicleta e es unha pendanga
vas en camiseta e es unha pendanga
native language / dismemory
vernacular / all was vernacular
vernacular / all was vernacular
extirpan o galego de nós
mesmo se a vida ten que ser arrincada no proceso
mesmo se a vida ten que ser arrincada no proceso
the sensation an entire people can feel
on finding themselves shut outside
of their shared native tongue
on finding themselves shut outside
of their shared native tongue
a lingua ese estigma que aínda nos delata.
how could she have anything poetic in her?
she’d been born here
had abandoned her language
complained
—It’s a nice place to be, for a month, in summer
in winter here there’s nothing
you go riding a bicycle here and you’re a slut
you go out wearing a tank top here and you’re a slut
she’d been born here
had abandoned her language
complained
—It’s a nice place to be, for a month, in summer
in winter here there’s nothing
you go riding a bicycle here and you’re a slut
you go out wearing a tank top here and you’re a slut
Uso corrupto da linguaxe
they extirpated Galician from us
even if life had to be plucked out in the process
even if life had to be plucked out in the process
a vosa segura protección contra as palabras
–quen sodes vós?, o ulido do meu embigo?
–quen sodes vós?, o ulido do meu embigo?
our tongue the stigma that still denounces us, even now.
como o idioma vos vence invariablemente
Corrupt use of language
mellor ser un paria
your reliable protection against words
—who do you think you are?, a whiff from my navel?
—who do you think you are?, a whiff from my navel?
colocar algo no seu lugar preciso
how the language invariably defeats you
adornar os xarróns con flores
e o día que camiña de présa...
tempo postergado
pero ningunha auga é intransitábel
e os sentidos nunca me abandonan
e o día que camiña de présa...
tempo postergado
pero ningunha auga é intransitábel
e os sentidos nunca me abandonan
better to be a pariah
ser superfluo significa non pertencer ao mundo en absoluto
put something exactly where it belongs
estar fóra do mundo
put flowers in the vases
and the day that’s quickly fleeing...
time deferred
but no waters are impassable
and my senses never abandon me
and the day that’s quickly fleeing...
time deferred
but no waters are impassable
and my senses never abandon me
–é superflua a nosa identificación coa lingua?
to be superfluous means utterly not belonging to the world
–se alguén se atreve a volver dicir «a verdade»
to be outside the world
ou
—is our identification with our language superfluous?
basta xa de «verdade» estou chea de verdade
—if someone dares to tell “the truth” again
ou
or
deixádeme en paz coa verdade! Basta de tanta verdade
enough already of “truth” i’ve had it with truth
estas palabras ou outras parecidas
or
o monstruoso
leave me in peace with your truth! I’m sick of all this truth
como se entrebrecen as palabras
words like that or others just the same
Edén
the monstruous
Hotel Edén
how words go dark
Rosa Luxemburgo
aquí celebraron o seu ágape os asesinos
aquí celebraron o seu ágape os asesinos
Eden
Felicidade
Hotel Eden
felicidade para eles
Rosa Luxemburg
here the murderers are holding their banquet
here the murderers are holding their banquet
felicidade para nós
Happiness
na unidade
happiness for them
na uniformidade
happiness for us
Felicidade!!!
in unity
en pouco tempo estes infortunados pobos perderan a súa individualidade
in uniformity
nós sermos eles
Happiness!!!
eles sermos nós
soon these unlucky peoples will lose their individuality
a diferencia nega a unidade o odio a felicidade
we being them
a loucura nega a paz
them being us
–que pensas ti atopar no lago?
difference negates unity, hatred, happiness
–non os restos poéticos de Heaney
«esta pupila soñando co trigo megalítico»
atoparas o rexemento de «Misión de audaces»
–lévense esta muller de aquí
«esta pupila soñando co trigo megalítico»
atoparas o rexemento de «Misión de audaces»
–lévense esta muller de aquí
madness negates peace
estes son os diálogos que aprendes
de todo isto nos alimentamos
de todo isto nos alimentamos
—what do you think you’ll find in the lake?
–córtelle a bota
–ninguén me vai cortar a bota
–dáme un trago
–son botas de vinte dólares
–colle un soldado, buscade un vado para cruzar o río, leva ao corneta contigo
–gracias, señor, gracias pola oportunidade
–ninguén me vai cortar a bota
–dáme un trago
–son botas de vinte dólares
–colle un soldado, buscade un vado para cruzar o río, leva ao corneta contigo
–gracias, señor, gracias pola oportunidade
—not some poetic morsel from Heaney
“And find this pupil dreaming/ Of neolithic wheat”2
instead you’ll find the regiment from The Horse Soldiers
—get this woman out of here
“And find this pupil dreaming/ Of neolithic wheat”2
instead you’ll find the regiment from The Horse Soldiers
—get this woman out of here
a frase
«tiven que aprender o americano...»
é unha frase de Raymond Chandler
que recollo dunha sección de Striking Resemblance
de Tina Darragh
«tiven que aprender o americano...»
é unha frase de Raymond Chandler
que recollo dunha sección de Striking Resemblance
de Tina Darragh
these are the dialogues you learn
we just lap it up
we just lap it up
L–A–N–G–U–A–G–E
—cut his boot off, Sam
—nobody’s cutting that boot off
—take a good stiff jolt
—those are $20 boots, trooper
—take A-troop, find a ford someway across that river, take a bugler with you
—Sir, thank you for the opportunity
—nobody’s cutting that boot off
—take a good stiff jolt
—those are $20 boots, trooper
—take A-troop, find a ford someway across that river, take a bugler with you
—Sir, thank you for the opportunity
así é como os meus pais se empeñaron en educarnos en español
the sentence
“I had to learn American”
is a phrase of Raymond Chandler’s
I took from the poem “Striking Resemblance”
by Tina Darragh
“I had to learn American”
is a phrase of Raymond Chandler’s
I took from the poem “Striking Resemblance”
by Tina Darragh
pero logo todos esqueceriamos a importancia da lingua
L-A-N-G-U-A-G-E
máis económico o odio
que fai táboa rasa cos demais
do pensamento
que fai táboa rasa cos demais
do pensamento
it describes how my parents were determined to educate us in Spanish
case muda
case escoitando
aínda a chamada
case escoitando
aínda a chamada
later everyone would forget the importance of language
ven
unha soa vez
vestida de loito e aproxímate á miña tumba
unha soa vez
vestida de loito e aproxímate á miña tumba
hate’s more economical
and makes all the rest a blank slate
of thought
and makes all the rest a blank slate
of thought
divide o silencio
redúceo ás súas partes máis cativas
ínfimas
reductas
entre vocal e vocal
entre vocal e consoante
redúceo ás súas partes máis cativas
ínfimas
reductas
entre vocal e vocal
entre vocal e consoante
almost mute
almost still listening
to the call
almost still listening
to the call
corpo aberto da linguaxe
os espacios en branco
entre palabra e palabra
entre verso e outro verso
os espacios en branco
entre palabra e palabra
entre verso e outro verso
it comes
just once
dressed in mourning and you move close to my tomb
just once
dressed in mourning and you move close to my tomb
pero nunca puiden figurarme a morte
silence splits
is reduced to its smallest parts
tiny bits
shrunken
between vowel and vowel
between vowel and consonant
is reduced to its smallest parts
tiny bits
shrunken
between vowel and vowel
between vowel and consonant
a costa non era senón unha sucesión de cons anegados baixo la furia do mar e
dos torrentes que caían sen cesar dun ceo
negro
dos torrentes que caían sen cesar dun ceo
negro
open body of the language
its blank spaces
between word and word
between one line and another
its blank spaces
between word and word
between one line and another
as augas escintilantes de aletas dorsais que se axitaban no medio de verdadeiros
bancos de tabeiróns
mutilados
agonizantes
tal e como eles conciben o poema
anterior á revolución industrial
bancos de tabeiróns
mutilados
agonizantes
tal e como eles conciben o poema
anterior á revolución industrial
but I never could figure out death
unha manufactura
the coast was but endless rock cliffs swamped by the fury of the sea and
of the torrents that fall endlessly from a darkened
sky
of the torrents that fall endlessly from a darkened
sky
escribir nunha lingua que na nenez nos foi negada
escribir nunha lingua que escoitamos roubada
–cantas palabras escoitaches nesa lingua no medio do labirinto que eles
falaban ou na súa ausencia?
escribir nunha lingua que escoitaches sen saber que esa lingua era a túa
e que esa era unha lingua diferente da que dicían eles falar
–en que falaban, en que idioma trataban de falar aqueles que no teu berce te
agasallaron?
escribir nunha lingua que escoitamos roubada
–cantas palabras escoitaches nesa lingua no medio do labirinto que eles
falaban ou na súa ausencia?
escribir nunha lingua que escoitaches sen saber que esa lingua era a túa
e que esa era unha lingua diferente da que dicían eles falar
–en que falaban, en que idioma trataban de falar aqueles que no teu berce te
agasallaron?
waters scintillating with dorsal fins that teem amidst iridescent shoals of sharks
mutilated
dying
that’s how they saw the poem
prior to the industrial revolution
mutilated
dying
that’s how they saw the poem
prior to the industrial revolution
lingua de escombros
lingua campo de exterminio
lingua campo de exterminio
a manufacture
clase media lingüística
to write in a tongue denied us in childhood
to write in a tongue we listened to, stolen
—how many words did you hear in that tongue amidst the labyrinth they spoke or in its absence?
to write in a tongue you listened to not knowing it was your own
and that it was a different tongue from the one they claimed to be speaking
—what were they speaking, in what tongue really speaking, those who gave language to you in your cradle?
to write in a tongue we listened to, stolen
—how many words did you hear in that tongue amidst the labyrinth they spoke or in its absence?
to write in a tongue you listened to not knowing it was your own
and that it was a different tongue from the one they claimed to be speaking
—what were they speaking, in what tongue really speaking, those who gave language to you in your cradle?
entre o español corrupto das oficinas e o español diletante das señoras
tongue of ruins
language extermination camp
language extermination camp
vosoutros: monstros!
linguistic middle class
borrar toda tradición
todo pasado
todo pasado
between corrupt office Spanish and the dilettante Spanish of ladies
totalitarismo
senrazón
loucura
porque no voso medo existía un lugar
coma un furado pequeniño da máis diminuta luz
algo anterior a vós
ao medo
entramos nesa luz
chamámoslle. REVOLUCIÓN. LIBERACIÓN NACIONAL
angustia
Patria
senrazón
loucura
porque no voso medo existía un lugar
coma un furado pequeniño da máis diminuta luz
algo anterior a vós
ao medo
entramos nesa luz
chamámoslle. REVOLUCIÓN. LIBERACIÓN NACIONAL
angustia
Patria
all of you: monsters!
no voso medo
no que soñabades
anterior a vós
ao medo
no que soñabades
anterior a vós
ao medo
erasing all tradition
all past
all past
así borrastes as nosas trazas
ocultastes o rostro
a identidade
o nome
ocultastes o rostro
a identidade
o nome
totalitarianism
unreason
madness
unreason
madness
–eu, que emerxín do diluvio. Recórdovos
nas vosas debilidades
a época escura
da que eu escapei
nas vosas debilidades
a época escura
da que eu escapei
because in your fear there was a spot
like a pinhole of the tiniest bit of light
something prior to you all
prior to fear
we went into that light
we called it: REVOLUTION. NATIONAL LIBERATION
anguish
Homeland
like a pinhole of the tiniest bit of light
something prior to you all
prior to fear
we went into that light
we called it: REVOLUTION. NATIONAL LIBERATION
anguish
Homeland
lembrareivos con clemencia
esa frescura infantil que pende no baleiro
esa frescura infantil que pende no baleiro
in your fear
in what you were dreaming
prior to you all
prior to fear
in what you were dreaming
prior to you all
prior to fear
pero ningún templo vos agarda
nada «novelo no vento nove»
nada sobre Paestum
nada «novelo no vento nove»
nada sobre Paestum
thus you erased our very traces
you hid your face
identity
name
you hid your face
identity
name
40 linguas na India
outras 40 no Gabón
outras 40 no Gabón
—I, who emerged from the flood. I remember you all
in your debility
the dark age
from which I escaped
in your debility
the dark age
from which I escaped
alguén falara sempre nesa moitedume delinguas
I’ll remember you all with clemency
with that childhood freshness that dangles in the void
with that childhood freshness that dangles in the void
terá que ser así
non sobre de min: a lírica
e u son esas restrevas
esa promenade encol da Literatura
non sobre de min: a lírica
e u son esas restrevas
esa promenade encol da Literatura
porque o que busquei na nenez non era o meu reflexo
senón esa alianza dos que sobrevivistes coa derrota
esa alianza na que se centrou toda a nosa traxedia
toda determinación
toda impotencia
senón esa alianza dos que sobrevivistes coa derrota
esa alianza na que se centrou toda a nosa traxedia
toda determinación
toda impotencia
40 tongues in India
another 40 in Gabon
another 40 in Gabon
así: a Poesía
someone will always speak in that surfeit of languages
o colapso
a desmemoria
a desmemoria
it has to be like that
it’s not up to me: lyric
I am that stubble
that promenade on top of Literature
it’s not up to me: lyric
I am that stubble
that promenade on top of Literature
acoutar o drama
saberse fillos de pais moralmente inadecuados
da súa negativa a dicir
da súa perturbación
da súa orixe
saberse fillos de pais moralmente inadecuados
da súa negativa a dicir
da súa perturbación
da súa orixe
because what I sought in childhood was not my reflection
but that alliance of you who survived the defeat
alliance at the centre of all our tragedy
all determination
all impotence
thus: Poetry
but that alliance of you who survived the defeat
alliance at the centre of all our tragedy
all determination
all impotence
thus: Poetry
e pois que non se rompeu o espello
senón que nos foi dado roto de antemao
e logo esgazou de novo en nós
nos: aqueles que tivemos que recobrar o mar
senón que nos foi dado roto de antemao
e logo esgazou de novo en nós
nos: aqueles que tivemos que recobrar o mar
collapse
dismemory
dismemory
porque todas as pontes foran rotas
to limit the drama
to recognize we’re offspring of morally inadequate parents
of their refusal to speak
of their perturbation
of their origin
to recognize we’re offspring of morally inadequate parents
of their refusal to speak
of their perturbation
of their origin
nos vasos
nos elixires
nos somos
nos elixires
nos somos
and thus the mirror didn’t shatter
it was given to us broken from the start
and then shattered again in us
us: those who now must recover the sea
it was given to us broken from the start
and then shattered again in us
us: those who now must recover the sea
na memoria
for all the bridges were destroyed
a historia que narran os papiros de Orfeo
a historia dunha identidade imposíbel
a historia dunha identidade imposíbel
in vases
in elixirs
in dreams
in elixirs
in dreams
un novo Hades
propicio
se algún día un deus pousou a súa mao na nosa boca
propicio
se algún día un deus pousou a súa mao na nosa boca
in memory
a claridade desa luz
a escrita.
a escrita.
history as recounted on the papyruses of Orpheus
the history of an impossible identity
the history of an impossible identity
De Ponte das poldras (Segunda ed. 2006)
as if one day a god held a hand over our mouths
In der Mandel –was stet in der Mandel?
Paul Celan
Paul Celan
the clarity of that light
the writing.
the writing.
Na pedra –que é o que se sostén na pedra?
a lagoa
a lagoa enfíase na pedra
enfíase, enfiase
a lagoa
a lagoa enfíase na pedra
enfíase, enfiase
---------------------------------------------
Na lagoa –que é o que se sostén?
a trenza
enfíase a trenza, a trenza de beón
enfíase, enfíase
a trenza
enfíase a trenza, a trenza de beón
enfíase, enfíase
From Ponte das poldras (2nd éd. 2006)
Cabelo de Anta nunca serás poeira
In der Mandel—was steht in der Mandel?
Paul Celan
Paul Celan
E o teu ollo cara a onde se dirixe?
o teu ollo sostense na pedra
o teu ollo enfíase nas augas.
Sostén a trenza
e así enfíase, enfíase
o teu ollo sostense na pedra
o teu ollo enfíase nas augas.
Sostén a trenza
e así enfíase, enfíase
In the stone—what dwells in the stone?4
the lagoon
the lagoon permeates the stone
permeates, permeates
the lagoon
the lagoon permeates the stone
permeates, permeates
Rizo do Idioma nunca serás poeira
In the lagoon—what dwells there?
the tangled tress
the tress permeates there, tress tangle of reeds
permeates, permeates
the tangled tress
the tress permeates there, tress tangle of reeds
permeates, permeates
Pedra baleira, gris. Real.
Braided hair of the dolmen you will never be dust
And your eye—on what does your eye dwell?
your eye dwells on the stone
your eye infiltrates the waters.
It sustains the tress
and so permeates, permeates
your eye dwells on the stone
your eye infiltrates the waters.
It sustains the tress
and so permeates, permeates
De Charenton (2004)
Empty stone. Regal-grey.
¿o que vostede escribe é representativo?
—nada representa, produce
—¿busca un significado?
—nada significa, funciona
—¿busca un significado?
—nada significa, funciona
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
---------------------------------------------
—¿trátase dunha lingua metafísica?
—non, trátase dunha lingua transcendental
—non, trátase dunha lingua transcendental
From Charenton (2004)
—¿ideolóxica?
—non, matérica
—¿edípica?
—non, esquizofrénica
—¿imaxinaria?
—non, non se trata dun idioma imaxinario, trátase dunha lingua non figurativa
—¿simbólica?
—non, real
—¿estructural?
—non, maquínica
—¿molar, gregaria?
—non, molecular, micropsíquica e microlóxica
—¿expresiva?
—productiva
—non, matérica
—¿edípica?
—non, esquizofrénica
—¿imaxinaria?
—non, non se trata dun idioma imaxinario, trátase dunha lingua non figurativa
—¿simbólica?
—non, real
—¿estructural?
—non, maquínica
—¿molar, gregaria?
—non, molecular, micropsíquica e microlóxica
—¿expresiva?
—productiva
---------------------------------------------
madam, is what you write representative?
—nothing represents, it produces
—it searches out meaning?
—nothing means, it functions
—nothing represents, it produces
—it searches out meaning?
—nothing means, it functions
De Hordas de escritura (2008)
”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Definición: poeta é o non poeta
—does it have to do with a metaphysical language?
—no, with a transcendental language
—ideological?
—no, material
—oedipal?
—no, schizophrenic
—imaginary?
—no, it has nothing to do with an imaginary idiom, it’s a non-figurative language —symbolic?
—no, real
—structural?
—no, machinic
—molar, gregarious?
—no, molecular, micropsychic and micrological
—expressive?
—productive
—no, with a transcendental language
—ideological?
—no, material
—oedipal?
—no, schizophrenic
—imaginary?
—no, it has nothing to do with an imaginary idiom, it’s a non-figurative language —symbolic?
—no, real
—structural?
—no, machinic
—molar, gregarious?
—no, molecular, micropsychic and micrological
—expressive?
—productive
Proposición I: verdadeiramente poeta é aquela/aquel cuxa musa foi integramente destruída
Escolio: se quen escribe poesía é aquel/aquela cuxa musa foi destruída, isto significa que a identidade entre poeta e non poeta nunca é perfecta, que non é posíbel destruír íntegramente a musa, que sempre resta algo. Ser poeta é ser ese resto
(segundo a orde xeométrica)
---------------------------------------------
(...) estas augas coexisten pero non son coincidentes, esta intimidade indivisíbel
From Hordas de escritura (2008)
Definition: poet equals non poet
Scholium: if whoever writes poetry is one whose muse was destroyed, it means that poet and non-poet never perfectly coincide, that it is not possible to integrally destroy the muse, a residue always remains. To be poet is to be that residue
De Carne de Leviatán (2013)
(according to the geometric order)
Eleusis
(…) these waters coexist but are not identical, this indivisible intimacy
Isto
eu
aquí
agora
ti
hoxe
mañá
entón
o mesmo día
sempre
eu
aquí
agora
ti
hoxe
mañá
entón
o mesmo día
sempre
nada hai na voz nada
unha lingua de fogo que a todos e a cada unha pertence
---------------------------------------------
pero quen di o idioma é a voz
non está
e volve
non está
e volve
From Carne de Leviatán (2013)
This
I
here
now
you
today
tomorrow
thus
the same day
forever
I
here
now
you
today
tomorrow
thus
the same day
forever
De Un libre favor (2020)
there’s nothing in the voice nothing
a tongue of fire that belongs to all and to each
Vosoutras pedras, traédeme as palabras
sodes o alfoz da vida
sodes o alfoz da vida
but whoever says language equals voice
isn’t here
and returns
isn’t here
and returns
traédeme a miga de pan
a que a lesma devora
e se confunde coa lama dos camiños
a que a lesma devora
e se confunde coa lama dos camiños
nada esperaba
en nada cría
en nada cría
---------------------------------------------
era só a marabilla de ser comanche e de vez
unha árbore
unha árbore
From Un libre favor (2020)
as follas de castiñeiro derredor da fronte
as trenzas longas cosidas con agullas de piñeiro
o vestido
as trenzas longas cosidas con agullas de piñeiro
o vestido
como o cervo atravesa as vías
e preto e sobre a neve mira pasar o tren
e preto e sobre a neve mira pasar o tren
All you stones, bring me words
you are the far hinterlands of life
you are the far hinterlands of life
así a voz
un cabalo
abebera nos espellos
e entre as patas garda
listas
as zapatillas de baile
un cabalo
abebera nos espellos
e entre as patas garda
listas
as zapatillas de baile
bring me the crumb of bread
the one the slug devours
and slops with mud from the roads
the one the slug devours
and slops with mud from the roads
------------------------
Orixinais en galego xentileza de Chus Pato
------------------------
Obra plástica da cabeceira:
Paisaxe. Antonio Murado [detalle]
1992. Pintura
Medidas: 200 x 200 cm
Óleo sobre lenzo. Colección Fundación RAC, Pontevedra
[ficha en Atalaia]
Orixinais en galego xentileza de Chus Pato
------------------------
Obra plástica da cabeceira:
Paisaxe. Antonio Murado [detalle]
1992. Pintura
Medidas: 200 x 200 cm
Óleo sobre lenzo. Colección Fundación RAC, Pontevedra
[ficha en Atalaia]
I hoped for nothing
believed in nothing
believed in nothing
there was but the marvel of being comanche and at the same time
a tree
a tree
chestnut leaves encircling my brow
long tresses sewn with pine needles
the gown
long tresses sewn with pine needles
the gown
just as the deer crosses the tracks
and from up close in the snow watches the train pass
and from up close in the snow watches the train pass
so the voice
a horse
drinks from mirrors
and at its hooves it keeps
ready:
dance slippers
a horse
drinks from mirrors
and at its hooves it keeps
ready:
dance slippers
------------------------
FOOTNOTES
1 Many words in this poem refers to the sardine fishery and the work of women in the canning of fish and in the keeping of nets. See O mar e a poesía galega. Singraduras na construcción da patria da lingua, by Francisco Fernández Rei, Revista Galega de Filoloxía, ISSN 1576-2661, 2003, 4: 11-57, for example.
2 from “Belderg” by Seamus Heaney, 1975.
3 “novelo no vento nove” a reference to the Alváro Cunqueiro’s classic poem “Return of Ulysses” from Herba de aquí e de acolá, speaking of Penelope weaving and wondering when Ulysses will return, as the ball of wool falls away from her... her dreams of return are dreams of Galicia arising... she represents the role of women in maintaining Galician...
4 Translator’s Note: Pato echoes the form of the poem “Mandorla” by Paul Celan, speaking in her poem of the Galician language, Neolithic history, and the Antela—both as anta (megalith) and as the living lagoon drained in the lands of Pato’s birth, during the Franco dictatorship, in the name of agricultural development. The scarring of the landscape still haunts that places of Pato’s ancestors, and when it rains hard, saturating the ground, parts of the lagoon reappear… https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoa_de_Antela . The Celan poem can be found online, here, for example: https://allpoetry.com/Mandorla
Sobre o texto · About the text
Chus Pato (Ourense, 1955) é unha das máis destacadas poetas contemporáneas galegas. A súa produción poética, que explora as fronteiras dos xéneros, ten recibido numerosos recoñecementos, como o Premio da Crítica da poesía galega por Hordas de escritura (2008), o premio Losada Diéguez en dúas ocasións por Nínive (1997) e Hordas de Escritura (2009) ou o premio Clara Campoamor (2018). En 2024 recibiu o Premio nacional de poesía.
Chus Pato (Ourense, 1955) is one of the most prominent contemporary Galician poets. Her poetic work often explores the boundaries of literary genres, has received numerous awards. Among the most notable recognitions are the Galician Poetry Critics' Award for Hordas de escritura (2008), the Losada Diéguez Prize on two occasions for Nínive (1997) and Hordas de Escritura (2009), and the Clara Campoamor Prize in 2018. In 2024, Pato was awarded the National Poetry Prize.