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On Poetry and Culture Shock

Se muestran los artículos pertenecientes a Abril de 2006.

02/04/2006

Saidi haiku!

Saidi is my favourite dance rhythm. It belongs to Egyptian folk music and it is intrinsically happy. I think the rhythm of the Spanish version of this haiku is closer to it than the English one.

The world would be a much better place if more things happened to a Saidi beat.

dum-TAK, dum-dum TAK
A veces la Tierra gira
con ritmo Saidi.

dum TAK dum-dum TAK
sometimes the world can spin
to a Saidi beat.

02/04/2006 23:24 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry No hay comentarios. Comentar.

04/04/2006

Martial Arts.

This is dedicated to Maruja, even though she doesn't like poetry. Thanks for the tea and everything else.

Bang. Bang. Ipon.
No jewels like beads of sweat.
No music like a body against a mat.

Bang. Bang. Ipon.
Ninguna joya más hermosa que el sudor.
Ninguna música más hermosa que el impacto.

 

10/04/2006

How To Write a Political Poem by Taylor Mali.

I first heard, rather than read, this poem. It's slam, a genre that tends to be political and takes place halfway between rap and plain old poetry recitation. I found the message very strong, with this ruthlessly bleak mixture of actual political protest and satire of creative trends. Read aloud for best effect.

However it begins, it's gotta be loud
and then it's gotta get a little bit louder.
Because this is how you write a political poem
and how you deliver it with power.
Mix current events with platitudes of empowerment.
Wrap it up in rhyme or rhyme it up in rap until it sounds true.
Glare until it sinks in.
Because somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted.
I said somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted!
See, that's the Hook, and you gotta' have a Hook.
More than the look, it's the hook that is the most important part.
The hook has to hit and the hook's gotta fit.
Hook's gotta hit hard in the heart.
Because somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted.
And Dick Cheney is peeing all over himself in spasmodic delight.
Make fun of politicians, it's easy, especially with Republicans
like Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, and . . . Al Gore.

Create fatuous juxtapositions of personalities and political philosophies
as if communism were the opposite of democracy,
as if we needed Darth Vader, not Ralph Nader.
Peep this: When I say "Call," you all say, "Response."
Call! Response! Call! Response! Call!
Amazing Grace, how sweet the—
Stop in the middle of a song that everyone knows and loves.
This will give your poem a sense of urgency.
Because there is always a sense of urgency in a political poem.
There is no time to waste!
Corruption doesn't have a curfew,
greed doesn't care what color you are
and the New York City Police Department
is filled with people who wear guns on their hips
and carry metal badges pinned over their hearts.
Injustice isn't injustice it's just in us as we are just in ice.
That's the only alienation of this alien nation
in which you either fight for freedom
or else you are free and dumb!

And even as I say this somewhere in Florida, votes are still being counted.
And it makes me wanna beat box!
Because I have seen the disintegration of gentrification
and can speak with great articulation
about cosmic constellations, and atomic radiation.
I've seen D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation
but preferred 101 Dalmations.
Like a cross examination, I will give you the explanation
of why SlamNation is the ultimate manifestation
of poetic masturbation and egotistical ejaculation.
And maybe they are still counting votes somewhere in Florida,
but by the time you get to the end of the poem it won't matter anymore.
Because all you have to do is close your eyes,
lower your voice, and end by saying:
the same line three times,
the same line three times,
the same line, three times.


Da igual cómo empiece, tiene que hablar muy alto
Y entonces tiene que ser un poco más alto
Porque así es como se escribe un poema político,
Y así es como lo recitas con energía.
Mezcla noticias de actualidad con topicazos sobre tomar el poder.
Envuélvelo en rimas, o rapéalo, hasta que parezca cierto.
Mira al público fijamente hasta que absorban la idea.
Porque en algún lugar de Florida, aún están contando votos.
¿¡e dicho que en algún lugar de Florida aún están contando votos!
¿Ves? Ese es el gancho, porque necesitas uno.
Más que tus pintas, lo más importante es el gancho.
El gancho tiene que ser un golpe fuerte, tiene que encajar
Tiene que dar fuerte en el corazón.
Porque en algún lugar de Florida, aún están contando votos.
Y Dick Cheney se está meando, con felicidad espasmódica.
Búrlate de los políticos, es fácil, sobre todo de Republicanos
como Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, o. . . Al Gore.
Crea yuxtaposiciones fatuas de personalidades y filosofías políticas,
Como si el comunismo fuera lo contrario de la democracia,
Como si necesitáramos a Darth Vader, no a Ralph Nader.
Atención: Cuando yo diga “Llamada”,
Vosotros decís “Respuesta”.
¡Llamada! ¡Respuesta! ¡Llamada! ¡Respuesta!
Ay Pena penita pena –
Párate en mitad de una canción que todo el mundo conozca,
Esto le dará a tu poema una sensación de urgencia.
Porque siempre hay sensación de urgencia en un poema político,
¡porque no hay tiempo que perder!
La corrupción no tiene toque de queda,
A la avaricia le da igual de qué raza seas
Y la policía de Nueva Cork
está llena de gente que lleva pistolas en la cadera
y llevan placas de metal sobre el corazón.
La injusticia no es injusticia, es in-justicia, es estulticia,
Esa es la única alineación en esta nación
En la que si no luchas por la libertad
Es que eres libre y tonto!
Y mientras hablo, en algún lugar de Florida todavía están contando votos.
Y me hace querer dar golpes!
Porque he visto la desintegración de la reintegración
Y puedo hablar con gran articulación
De las constelaciones cósmicas y las radiaciones atómicas.
He visto El Nacimiento de Una Nación
Pero me gusta más Nace una Canción
Como en un careo, te daré la explicación
De porqué SlamNation es la manifestación
De la masturbación poética y la soberbia eyaculación
Y puede que sigan contando votos en algún lugar de Florida,
Pero para cuando acabes este poema dará igual.
Porque sólo tienes que cerrar los ojos,
Bajar la voz, y acabar diciendo
El mismo verso tres veces,
El mismo verso tres veces,
El mismo verso, tres veces
.

10/04/2006 20:11 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: Other people\'s poetry No hay comentarios. Comentar.

13/04/2006

Young, modern Spanish poets (insert sarcasm here)

I'm doing an experiment. I'm reading all the antologies and compilations of poetry by young, modern Spanish poets. Most of them are from the South. I have spoken very often (here , and here, and here) of my opinion of the current trends in local poetry. I often sound as if I have something against the poets themselves; I don't. I do have something against unoriginality, pretentiousness, and poems that are ugly and/or gratuituously hard to understand. So, I'm reading all the accumulated books and booklets that I have had lying around for years. I've had to read 30 poems by 25 writers to find someone that I think worth sharing (Scroll down for the translation). This is from Pablo García Casado, a widely published poet. All I will say against it is that I don't like his omission of punctuation signs: there was one e. e. cummings, the one and only, and I don't see a need to resurrect the irritating cummings-like tendency to forget about punctuation. In any case, what a poem. What a slap on the face. What a control of words. I do love a bit of cruelty once in a while.

FALDA

como un tornado que pasara lentamente
la vida esparció los objetos por las cuatro
esquinas de este mapa objetos

de escaso valor souvenirs bolígrafos gastados
transistores sin pilas y prendas prendas como esa falda

tirada por el suelo
recuerdo el día que la compraste ¿qué es esto? no
no voy a ponérmela es demasiado corta cien mil veces

en cócteles en verbenas en domingos estúpidos en casa
bailando para ti sólo para ti cien mil veces me la puse
sin bragas sin nada debajo como tú me pedías y ahora ves

tirada por el suelo
se la pone luisa para jugar con las amigas

si vieras cómo ha crecido en pocos meses

SKIRT

like a tornado passing by slowly
life threw around the objects to the four
corners of this map objects

of little value mementoes empty pens
radios without batteries and clothes clothes like that skirt

lying on the floor
i remember the day you bought it what's that? no
i'm not going to wear it it's too short a hundred thousand times

at cocktails at parties on stupid sundays at home
dancing for you only for you a hundred thousand times i wore it
without underwear nothing underneath as you asked me and now see

lying on the floor
luisa wears it to play with her friends

you should she how much she's grown on the last few months 

 

14/04/2006

Little by little

For those of you interested in creative process gossip, this is absolutely autobiographical. The thing is, it is not my body that has been ill. Those of you that know me in the real world probably know what I'm talking about. It's inspired by a classical, Japanese one I'll post soon.

Convalecencia
con el cuerpo casi nuevo
poquito a poco.

Convalescence
With my body nearly new
Baby steps.

 

14/04/2006 15:12 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry Hay 1 comentario.

A fairy tale of sorts

Maruja has left this in the comments. Just this once, I'm speechless. Let her words (and my translation) speak for themselves.

Había una vez una preciosidad. Sus ricitos morenos guardaban un secreto: cada mechón de su pelo conocía una palabra, y por tanto, su abundante cabellera era toda un diccionario. Ello hacia que fuera dicharachera, y que los demás, lejos de reconocer el poder del verbo, se sintieran abrumados con sus disertaciones. A muchos les daba miedo, y era por ello criticada, pero si alguien se paraba a escuchar despacito quedaba encandilado.

El gran poder de sus pociones con las palabras residia en la creación de maravillosas mezclas, que ella mezclaba de forma pausada, tranquila, poco a poco, ...nunca antes el sudor había sido una joya, pero ella conseguía aunarlos, mecerlos y elevarlos a la categoría de poema:
Ninguna joya más hermosa que el sudor.

Es única en el mundo, un pequeño objeto precioso, eterna luchadora, con una visión tan particular del mundo, y está aún por descubrir por sus seres más cercanos.

Posiblemente una cabellera tan excepcional no deja ver una sonrisa tan dulce, posiblemente no entienden el moldeado de sus rizos, y porque se entrelazan generando figuras únicas y ambiguas, o quizás, sienten vergüenza de no saber expresar los golpes de la vida con notas musicales, y han de usar el verbo. Ninguna música más hermosa que el impacto.

Once upon a time there was a beauty. Her little dark curls kept a secret: each ringlet knew a word, and because of this, her abundant hair was quite a dictionary. That made her talkative, and others, far from recognising the power of the Word, were overwhelmed by her speeches. Many were scared of her, and criticised her for this reason, but if anyone ever stopped to listen, they were enthralled.

The great power of her word potions was in the creation of wonderful mixtures, that she stirred slowly, gently, little by little... never had sweat been a jewel before, but she could put them together, cradle them and lift them to the categpry of poem:
no jewels like beads of sweat.

She's unique, a little, beautiful object, eternal fighter, with such a special worldview, still undiscovered by those closest to her.

It is very likely that such exceptional hair doesn't let others notice the sweetest smile, they probably don't understand the shape of her curls, because they entwine creating ambiguous, unique patterns, or maybe, they are ashamed because they cannot express life's troubles with musical notation, and must use words.
No music like a body against a mat.

15/04/2006

Lust and Gluttony

Lujuria y gula.

Eres distinto del chocolate
porque ver chocolate no basta
pero no necesito de ti
más que saber que podrías ser mío.

Lust & Gluttony

You're not like chocolate at all
because it is never enough to see chocolate
but I need nothing of you
beyond the certainty you could be mine.


 

15/04/2006 19:56 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry No hay comentarios. Comentar.

17/04/2006

Unfinished?

This might be part of a cycle, eventually; I don't know if it captures the mood of something loving and gentle but limited and unresolved.

Dos horas aquí.
Verte en esta burbuja
es viajar a un país exótico.

Here for two hours.
Meeting you in this bubble
Like travelling to distant lands.

17/04/2006 14:05 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry No hay comentarios. Comentar.

19/04/2006

Let's say this again

I’m repeating a poem I only posted a month ago, I know. This little baby is, against my custom, sincere. It is maybe the first poem I ever write and don’t destroy in which I use the first person to talk about my own feelings. That’s why I didn’t like it at first and also why I thought it was cliché.

I don't like to give so much interpretation of my own poem, but in case anyone is reading me in it, I don't find this feeling a negative one. Not at all.  

Algo me falta;
Me siento como un ritmo
buscando melodía.

There’s something missing.
I feel I’m a rhythm
in search of a melody.

19/04/2006 15:23 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry Hay 1 comentario.

20/04/2006

How to locate the Pharmacy Building

The stereotype is that young women are not interested in studying Engineering, or, Sciences unless they are Health Sciences.

My town has a Sciences Campus with most of the sciences and engineering degrees, and I told a friend of mine to go to the Pharmacy School. He got lost and he asked a man for directions. The man told him, "Walk straight ahead until you see a crowd of gorgeous babes".

My friend reported he had no trouble at all locating the building.

21/04/2006

Horror Tanka

I was going to call this "fairy tale tanka" because I like my fairy tales bloody. But that doesn't sound right.

Cuando miras
Debajo de la cama
Y no hay un monstruo
Ten muchísimo cuidado
Mira bajo la almohada.

When you look under the bed
And there's no monster
With extreme care
look under the pillow
.

 

 

 

21/04/2006 19:38 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry No hay comentarios. Comentar.

23/04/2006

Book Day

I don't have anything to say about Book Day that I haven't said already. I celebrated Book Day yesterday, and received three books: an unexpected children's book with gorgeous illustrations , a detective story set in Shanghai, and the one on which the movie Brokeback Mountain is based.

Yes, too few books. But that is easily solved . *wink*  

 

 

23/04/2006 12:42 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: Assorted Hay 2 comentarios.

25/04/2006

John Donne

I can’t believe I haven’t written anything about John Donne since I started to blog from this location. A friend of mine has recently discovered him and that's an excuse as good as any other to post this translation.

Like some Spanish writers of Post-Renaissance literature, Donne wrote both love poetry and religious poetry. I prefer his love poetry, although there is a sonnet (ah, the religious sonnet, what a wonderful oxymoron) that compares his heart to a walled city and God to the army that has a siege on it, and faith with the ram that breaks the city walls. Have you seen The Return of the King, the third movie of the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Can you see the leap of imagination needed to imagine that the love of God is like the Orcs and their catapults trying to conquer the city… for the city’s own good? His love poetry can share that same intensity.

John Donne is not well known in Spain; it’s unavoidable, perhaps. His violent metaphors are hard to understand in English, so translation is nightmarish at times. I cannot do John Donne justice, mostly because I have no ability to rhyme, so I’ve made an adaptation into free verse. No rhyme at all is better than bad rhyme. I have picked this poem because it is sentimental, and the same time restrained, so it appeals to me a lot (surprise, surprise). You can read it in English here.

El Funeral.
Vienes a amortajarme. No rompas,
no cuestiones
la pulsera de pelo que corona mi mano.
No toques el misterio,
el signo,
no lo toques.
Es mi alma, un alma externa,
para sustituir la que se ha ido.
Ahora controla mi cuerpo.
Ahora ya tiene un imperio.
Ahora me salvará.

Mi mente ya no existe,
los músculos no han muerto.
Los pelos será nervios
entrelazadamente
pues no en vano crecían en mejor cabeza.
Y me recompondrán.
Eso, si ella no buscaba
dejarme aún más claro su no,
mi dolor encadenado,
los grilletes de pelo de mi amor prisionero.

Qué importa su intención.
Qué más da ella. Enterradlo.
Si me hizo mártir de amor,
cualquiera que lo vea se hará hereje,
idólatra de estas reliquias.
Y si me dio la humildad
para darle el mérito de todo lo que hice,
tendré el coraje.
Nunca la poseí. Algo suyo poseerá mi tumba.

28/04/2006

Back catalogue

One of the saddest characteristics of modern literature is that we are always in search of novelty and trends, turning books into a commodity very similar to fashion. I don't refer just to best-sellers: books are allowed a very brief time on bookshop's shelves, especially in big chain stores.

I'm happy to see that one huge chain store is doing something about it. Waterstones is adapting its best-of, the-house-recommends, three-for-two method to the interests of readers and publishing houses, because they have selected 30 little-know, relatively old books to highlight their back catalogue. The selection was done by asking the company's sellers, and therefore it is unavoidably biased towards books originally in English. Here it is:

1 Revenge Of The Lawn by Richard Brautigan
2 What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
3 Death and The Penguin by Andrey Kurkov
4 The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies
5 The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
6 Christie Malry's Own Double-Entry by BS Johnson
7 Hunger by Knut Hamsun
8 Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
9 Dry Bones by Richard Beard
10 Mirror Lake by Thomas Christopher Greene
11 Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
12 Journey By Moonlight by Antal Szerb
13 Too Loud A Solitude by Bohumil Hrabal
14 Trip To The Stars by Nicholas Christopher
15 Daughter Of The Forest by Juliet Marillier
16 Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
17 Woman On The Edge Of Time by Marge Piercy
18 Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
19 The Pursuit Of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman
20 Drama City by George Pelecanos
21 Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll
22 The Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart
23 Empire Falls by Richard Russo
24 Ridley Walker by Russell Hoban
25 Radetzky March by Joseph Roth
26 Double by José Saramago
27 Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum
28 Mists Of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
29 Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

I don't know if these books are good (I have only read one of them), and I don't much like the best-of method. But in my experience, people will buy anything that's recommended in big enough and bright enough lettering, and anything done to publicise books is a good thing.  

 

28/04/2006 14:33 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: Other people\'s poetry No hay comentarios. Comentar.

29/04/2006

Work in progress

Edited to add Jose Angel 's suggestion. 

Frágil
Vulnerable
Delicado
Endeble
Desvalido
Débil

Qué asco de diccionario

Demasiados sinónimos para mi cobardía.

Vulnerable
Delicate
Weak
Brittle
Fragile
Feeble

Fucking Thesaurus

Too many synonyms for my cowardice.

29/04/2006 19:30 Autor: Eugenia Andino. Link me // Enlace directo. Tema: My Poetry Hay 1 comentario.

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