Saturn
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Nell Haque
They are babies
grown children
brothers
I drink in
your sorrows
of grown men
and I love them
Look what they have done
to the world
entrusted to them
by my father
Brute force
concealing
the candle
bequeathed
by the mother
ablaze inside
Let Mother Nature
at the next turn
guide you and sing
Saturn
of your children
When you become
priest, father
fertile life
in streams
will rush forth
bursting its banks
and with tenderness
bring you to life
the earth
the light
and the air.
Translation of ‘Saturno’ by Ariana Dubov
On Pain
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Nell Haque
You weep
with your eagle tears
with eternal tears
of God
your sorrow gathers
in your gentle gaze
to the world, dead
of hunger
of love
Today I spill
my tears
wrapped in the illusion
of my strong hope
that in a new
dawn
you will paint the people
rose and white
Stars with love
in their eyes
and a playful
smile
on their cheeks
and forever
a magic mirror
upon their faces
so they fall in love
with themselves
and cast out
the idolatrous pain.
Translation of ‘De Dolor’ by Karina Kalinkina
On Love #5
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Nell Haque
Love passing through me
is a power
beyond my strength
the heart complains
sore from loving
and I ask for a truce.
I walk all
your surfaces
I barely live them
and I fall short
in expressing
all that you wish
and I even suffer
in delight
without translating it all
in your way
I, a shadow
was nothing
now I am half-light
you, a pure light.
Among
the objects
of the market
I cannot be found.
Hang me from the clouds
in pursuit of you
rise, soul, rise
wait, wait,
that the light
gives birth to me
and transcends me.
Translation of ‘De Amor #5’ by Karina Kalinkina
On Love #2
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Nell Haque
My lord
we must resolve
this fever of love
for this land
of yours.
Translation of ‘De Amor #2’ by Karina Kalinkina
My Hands
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Nell Haque
If I ever place
my hands
in your hands
and the force of love
is absent
bury my hands
in the earth
forged
by human passion
if I focus
my chest
on yours and
the divine presence of love
does not descend
then we are
dolls, puppets, nothing
made lifeless by God.
Translation of ‘Mis Manos’ by Ariana Dubov
Let Us Love Each Other
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Nell Haque
Let us disintegrate
let us disintegrate
until
in the absolute
purity of the soul
we may love each other
and in a communion
free of shame
or of the body
let us love
the Creator
in silence.
Translation of ‘Amémonos’ by Karina Kalinkina
Let It Be
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Nell Haque
You do not think
that you are chosen
and strong
you do not cry
like Our Lady of Sorrow
gentle rose
the thorns
do not matter
iron
dissolves
in the water
each day
and the rock
becomes sand
surrendering
to its knees
let your
gentleness
surrender
to the Truth.
Translation of ‘Deja’ by Karina Kalinkina
I’m Leaving
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Nell Haque
The wind shivers
hurried on by winter
tired, it crosses silently
shyly, the midday sun
emerges again
the people
smelling of coal
The neighbors cross
the threshold
of the inn
becoming regular patrons
walking slowly
sometimes drinking broth
eating pine nut empanadas
from the pot, gnawing on bones
after Holy Week
the beaches in Los Vilos
are empty
In September
the people return,
floating in the air the sounds
of mournful tunes
cheerful cueca rhythms
the radios bring news
politics is heard
carefully
and without blame
the talkative ones declare
freely their feelings
They take note of the weather
and the news floods
their emotions
with its tragedies
everyone seems to live
the good life
and be happy
my body
doesn’t know whether
to stay with them
enticed by
rhythm, wine
love, games
passion
worms of spite
hidden hatred
claws of boredom
deceiving deception,
the dead
and my body wants
to stay with them
the eagle in my chest
wants to fly to you
high above the seagulls
they color the sky
white against intense blue
they proclaim freedom
far far away
My beloved
your presence
pierces me
through my chest
I go with you
my beloved
I leave them behind.
Translation of ‘Me Alejo’ by Ariana Dubov