English

DOORS AND WINDOWS We’d given up the cat for dead, but a neighbor reported, a cavity beneath the porch of an empty house across the street had drawn cats before, her own once for ten days. On my knees I peered, heard mewing, coaxed her out musty and thin, carried her back; homecoming or capture. As I lay here tonight another leaf falls from the struggling avocado tree, root-bound in a bucket by the window, sucking in water the radiator robs relentlessly from her leaves. The cat cries at...

THE BUILDING OPPOSITE stands naked. steel needles of mesh, rusted and fixed in squares of caleb’s* concrete. i see it every day, it doesn’t grow but when it’s fully built i will look back at the time it was frozen during lockdown. i will think of now, first floor, five stars. i will think of him, his photography, i will think of her, i will talk you through it. show you these things, frozen now. EL EDIFICIO DE ENFRENTE está desnudo las metálicas agujas de malla oxidadas y aseguradas...

  A  BODY OF WORK One comes, eventually, to the realization that one will leave behind only a body of work that will grow increasingly unintelligible to each new generation. A trace will remain spread across the vast internet in much the way certain particles inhabit the emptiness of deep space—negligibly, though perhaps measurably. I, for instance, am childless and, therefore, most likely will die alone, my nest feathered with yellowing poems. One comes, eventually, to the knowledge that one’s children are increasingly unintelligible, being yellowing poems spread across...

METAFÍSICA DE LA LETRA h Me ocurre una curiosa dificultad con palabras como orizonte hermita, horopéndola Con frecuencia, al intentar escribirlas la mano se confunde, titubea entre usar la h o ignorarla Cuando esto ocurre ante circunstantes suelo tomar el asunto con humor comento mi duda y ellos entonces ríen y me corrigen comprensivos o perplejos Extraño caso la letra h Es fácil caer en la tentación de compararla con el cero Pero la h carece de la masa gravitatoria del cero que es capaz de poner a girar...

LA CASA BAILARINA A Frank Gehry Él no puede escapar de su firma, y no sigue receta alguna para estas edificaciones desde Sillicon Valley hasta el Walt Disney Concert Hall desde el nuevo campus para Facebook en Menlo Park hasta el Museo Guggenheim de Bilbao desde Serpentine Gallery Pavilion de Londres hasta su casa bailarina de Praga solamente hacer a los demás lo que a usted le gustaría para sí como la regla de oro del Talmud: el respeto por la persona que está al lado tuyo como al...

To one who said that myths were lies and therefore worthless, even though “breathed through silver” PHILOMYTHUS TO MISOMYTHUS   You look at trees and label them just so, (for trees are `trees’, and growing is `to grow’); you walk the earth and tread with solemn pace one of the many minor globes of Space: a star’s a star, some matter in a ball compelled to courses mathematical amid the regimented, cold, Inane, where destined atoms are each moment slain.   At bidding of a Will, to which we...

PART I   It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. ‘By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp’st thou me?   The Bridegroom’s doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: May’st hear the merry din.’   He holds him with his skinny hand, ‘There was a ship,’ quoth he. ‘Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!’ Eftsoons his hand dropt he.   He holds him with his glittering eye— The Wedding-Guest stood...

1.   Dignity is an infatuation*   Evermore, for being well Runway of life packs off From unknown   Not a grief But a flying recipe in fingertips I’ve discovered all astonishments In your breast   And then it will rain By crossing all visible distances We’ll write the epitaphs of success       2.   You have crushed the bow-breaking bet earlier There was no blood in my kiss   If there is any capsule for love I would like to draw a moisted sleep Half the...

Unfinished evermore    From every corner, you know I came across the strikes. Aimed and fought Fought for the desponded soul. A sullen desert equipped my vims, Fallen asleep Dreamt of the lanes At every monsoon where we met That lichened lanes Those spectral vines Emerged my shells with enamored urge. You kept quiet Much adorable peace, Nightmare ruled I came across the strikes! Unrevealed    A merchant wind Pierced beyond my dream, Cultivating black fever.   I could stop reaching the world Pivoted merryland catch by dreams Worship...

Lover’s Gift Last night in the garden I offered you my youth’s foaming wine. You lifted the cup to your lips, you shut your eyes and smiled while I raised your veil, unbound your tresses, drawing down upon my breast your face sweet with its silence, last night when the moon’s dream overflowed the world of slumber. Regalo de amante Anoche, en el jardín, te ofrecí el vino espumeante de mi juventud. Tú te llevaste la copa a los labios, cerraste los ojos y sonreíste; y mientras, yo alcé...