She slept so deeply that I could not
awaken her beyond the ashes.
I slept so deeply I knew nothing.
She laughed in her sleep. It made me laugh.
I crawled underneath but no longer fit.
Was her name Roselia or was it Luisa?
Y así, como una fórmula física,
o química, o matemática,
yo quería que la última palabra de este libro,
la palabra que le pusiera la tapa al pomo,
fuera precisamente esa, Miami.
MIAMI FUTURE
Para mí todo el sueño y el dolor
porque son a mi boca panes tiernos.
Se acercan unos pájaros maternos.
Un águila seguida de un azor.
Para mí todo el ocio y el error,
porque panes igual, menos eternos,
y calientes igual. Panes y cuernos.
Un águila seguida de un azor.
Debería ser linda y omnisciente.
Debería ser Reina del Salami.
Ves el río y detrás verás el puente.
Debería olvidar sobre el tatami
los años que me quedan en la mente.
Debería olvidar todo Miami.
And so, like a formula in physics,
or chemistry, or math,
I wanted the last word in this book,
the word that would put a lid on it,
to be precisely this one: Miami.
MIAMI FUTURE
Come all you, dreams, come unto me all woes
because to me you taste like fresh loaves.
Some birds approach, maternal.
The bird coming is a goshawk.
Come all you, leisure hours, all you, flaws,
for you too are loaves, less eternal,
but just as warm. Loaves or croissants.
First an eagle then a goshawk.
I should be all-pretty and all-knowing.
I should be the Queen of Salami.
See the river, and the bridge beyond.
I should forget on the tatami
the years that in my mind do still hang on.
I should forget all about Miami.
AGRADECIMIENTOS DEL TRADUCTOR
Tengo una deuda de gratitud con varias personas que me han ayudado en la traducción de esta obra: Tony Beckwith, por su visión poética y sus excelentes revisiones y recomendaciones; Marian Schwartz, la intrépida líder de nuestro grupo de traducción literaria dentro de AATIA en Austin, por su apoyo y ánimo inquebrantables; Tina Posner, por su contagioso amor a la poesía y a la vida; Achy Obejas, por su fe en mí; y Legna Rodríguez Iglesias, por su generosa disposición para ayudarme a comprender su propia obra y las muchas horas de estimulante conversación sobre toda clase de temas poéticos.
A la memoria de Mr. Henry Martin, mi maestro de inglés, con amor y gratitud.
Translator’s Acknowledgments
I have a debt of gratitude to a few people who have helped with the translation of this work: Tony Beckwith, for his poetic insight and excellent revisions and recommendations; Marian Schwartz, the fearless leader of our AATIA Literary Translation SIG in Austin, for her unwavering support and encouragement; Tina Posner, for her contagious love of poetry and life; Achy Obejas, for her faith in me; and Legna Rodríguez Iglesias, for her generous disposition while helping me understand her own work, and the many hours of stimulating conversation about all things poetic.
In loving memory of Mr. Henry Martin, my English teacher, with gratitude.
Legna Rodríguez Iglesias won the 2011 Premio Iberoamericano de Cuentos Julio Cortázar and the 2016 Premio Literario Casa de Las Américas, in theater. She is the author of the poetry collections Hilo + Hilo, Dame Spray, Transtucé, and Chicle (ahora es cuando). Her other titles include the novels Las analfabetas, Mayonesa bien brillante, and Mi novia preferida fue un bulldog francés, as well as the short story collection No sabe/no contesta
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Published by Akashic Books
©2017 Legna Rodríguez Iglesias
English translation ©2017 Eduardo Aparicio
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61775-589-7
eISBN: 978-1-61775-609-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017936112
First printing
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