Yes, they closed
the door
and the night watch
didn’t arrive
I wanted to jump
the fence
with barbed wire
and it was so high
and my heart
was complaining
like a child
who doesn’t understand
what’s wrong with it
like a lion
I pace
sea, salt
litany
swell
at my back.

Translation of ‘Del Mar #2’ by Karina Kalinkina

Goodbye salt water
my poems
are drying up
moving away from you
is an uphill battle
winter
unbutton me
resenting
it’s sorrow
remembering the joy
of another moment
the swell strikes
the same
nerve
again and again and again
in suspense
I walk
among the rocks
with you within.

Translation of ‘Del Mar #1’ by Karina Kalinkina

By the beach
the lady walks
and the crazy gringo
sometimes takes her
by the hand
sometimes they walk
each one alone
other times he takes
both of her hands
and gazes
into her eyes.
Who are they?
good friends
in this world
and in the next
the lady
Kristal revived
him, an echo.

Translation of ‘Retorno’ by Ariana Dubov

True love
doesn’t know
weariness
boredom
separation or pause
tirelessly
the waves of surrender
strike
you who knows love
who gives it relentlessly
until the cells
contract
polarize
give way
and the heart, feeling its way
broken with tenderness
the soul remains
wide open.

Translation of ‘De Amor #4’ by Ariana Dubov

You are
north, south
east and west
of me
Close your hand
make me your prisoner
give me meaning
and drown my vain
importance
and like you
the alpha and the omega
may I have neither beginning
nor end.

Translation of ‘Del Amor #3’ by Karina Kalinkina

Do you remember? Like two lovers
you held my hand and said I love you?
You took me here and there,
I followed you back and forth

wherever you wished, unable to refuse
your wide black eyes that pleaded?
Do you remember? the little frogs you used to bring me,
and how you startled me with crickets,
until my fear subsided
and I learnt to play with you.
If I tied your shoes
you hugged me tightly
asking me, is it true
that you will never leave?
And I answered, never,
whilst thinking of you.

By example I taught you
the honesty of the earth
together with the truth of the sun
without even realising it.

When you were ten
you were so serious, do you remember?
You were already quite the gentlemen
at the pet shop

you were looking at the lizards
calling them by their names,
surprising the shopkeeper
he told us that one day
you’d be someone important
a scientist or a senator

I let you go out into the world
from our beloved home
I let you go without understanding
the intrigue, envy or jealousy.

I remember, when you were fifteen
you didn’t want to listen to me
there was a war between the two of us
I never gave you lectures
I’ve always said
that there’s a wolf and a sheep
inside each of us.

Wars wound without victory
and everyone wants to flee
there is death everywhere
ravaged birdsongs fall
upon our food
whistles devour the air

street corners without houses
the ground full of holes

still mastiffs conceal
the beasts within each breast
the sheep waits submissively
it does not care if it dies
whilst the beasts fight
in Cain’s wars.

Translation of ‘Cain’ by Karina Kalinkina

When I am reborn
and wake up in the arms
of a tranquil lagoon
perched on the mountain
I search for your eyes
quiet condor
to open.
As soon as morning comes
I ask you
why my brothers fight
and cry
and kill each other, sir
You say they are dy
ing for each other
deprived of love!
And I who drinks from your cup
who in my mirror
reflects them
maddened by pain
I want to hold them all
in my chest
and seal them away
with sunlight.

Translation of ‘Porque’ by Ariana Dubov

Now I know not sorrow
nor enemies neither
devoured they were
by the grace of love
that you gave me
to love through me
those who offend me
refuse me
betray me
all alone
I sit on your shores
and emerge new
persistent
alone, without promises
in me your love is complete
is invigorated and wants
to love for love’s sake
without reward
without wearying
like waves of generosity
that never cease.

Translation of ‘Sola’ by Ariana Dubov

a clear mirror
wondering eyes
born yesterday
will be a woman
to a man

inte
rrogated
sex estimated
wives
kneed into dough
each day
amassed

stimulated
intimidated
harassed
made into bread
measured and weighed
roasted or baked
we are