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
Él
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Nell Haque
El arpa de Su pecho
compresión
Sus ojos teñidos
de alegría
y el cimbal
de Su voz.
Glance
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Nell Haque
Winged arrows
escape
irresistibly following
your murmurs
You glance at me through the glimpses
of sky visible through the trees
and in the treetops
the wind distracts you
my exaggerated heart
burns.
Translation of ‘Mirada’ by Ariana Dubov
From the Sea #3
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Nell Haque
The same notes
that you give
in your surges
I echo them
with notes of force
in feeling
I rebuild myself
with each onslaught
of your waves
in an immense
love
that carries me
with it
and brings
to the shore
the rocks
the whirlpool
the centre
always
crashing
the sea
lets go
and I let myself go.
Translation of ‘Del Mar #3’ by Karina Kalinkina