Sunday, March 16, 2014

A Sunday Poem




My Lover the Sea

I am that child with the round, dirty face
who on every corner bothers you with his
"can you spare a quarter?"
I am that child with the dirty face
no doubt unwanted
that from far away contemplates coaches
where other children
emit laughter and jump up and down considerably
I am that unlikeable child
definitely unwanted
with the round dirty face
who before the giant street lights or
under the grandames also illuminated
or in front of the little girls that seem to levitate
projects the insult of his dirty face
I am that angry and lonely child of always,
that throws you the insult of that angry child of always
and warns you:
if hypocritically you pat me on the head
I would take that opportunity to steal your wallet.
I am that child of always
before the panorama of imminent terror,
imminent leprosy, imminent fleas,
of offenses and the imminent crime.
I am that repulsive child that improvises a bed
out of an old cardboard box and waits,
certain that you will accompany me.
- Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990)
Cuban revolutionary poet & author, exiled in NYC under Castro


2 comments:

  1. Such an odd poem. Too bad I can't read Spanish (was that the original language?). I'll bet it sounded more artful in the original. What made you post this, Annie? Feeling angst about our Gilded Age? No wonder. It's becoming a nightmare, this disparity between the haves and have-nots. Anyway, it was fun to read. I like a dyspeptic view of reality now and then. Does me good.

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  2. I had just been watching "Before Night Falls" with Javier Bardem film about Reinaldo Arenas life. Good movie I have seen it several times.

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