Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Fredy Chicangana

TEACHINGS OF THE SUN

And the sun came in softly through the roof of the house
until it reached the center of a great space
lit up in passing the ribs of a wet dog
and jumping took the smoke into its body
and began the ceremonial dance
of eternal return;
a man with hands smeared with black earth
twisted sisal between his legs
while the sun turned around the circle of time
on a just-burnt aluminum pot
“they will not take the land from us,” all said — even the sun—
this is the place we came to germinate
the earth that gives us the strength to go on living
and then it was as in a dream:
the day became as transparent as crystal
and while on all roads on the earth
men and women came out to defend it
the sun wore water
and little by little it became stronger in their bodies
with each instant of resistance
that’s why when it descends and silently comes into the houses
it reminds us of the struggle for mother earth.

ENSEÑANZA DEL SOL

ENSEÑANZA DEL SOL

Y el sol entró suavemente por el techo de una casa
hasta el centro de un gran espacio
pasó iluminando las costillas de un perro recién mojado
y de un salto tomó al humo entre su cuerpo
e inició la danza ceremonial
del continuo retorno;
un señor con las manos untadas de tierra negra
torcía una cabuya entre su pierna
mientras ella daba vueltas al circulo del tiempo
sobre una olla de aluminio recién quemado
“no nos quitarán la tierra”, dijeron todos — incluyendo al sol—
este es el lugar al que vinimos a germinar
la tierra que da la fuerza para seguir viviendo
y entonces fue como un sueño:
el día se hizo transparente como de cristal
y mientras por todos los caminos de la tierra
los hombres y mujeres salieron a defenderla
el sol se vistió de agua
y sobre los cuerpos se fue haciendo fuerte
en cada momento de resistencia
por eso cuando él desciende y entra a las casas en silencio
nos recuerda esa lucha por la madre tierra.
Close

TEACHINGS OF THE SUN

And the sun came in softly through the roof of the house
until it reached the center of a great space
lit up in passing the ribs of a wet dog
and jumping took the smoke into its body
and began the ceremonial dance
of eternal return;
a man with hands smeared with black earth
twisted sisal between his legs
while the sun turned around the circle of time
on a just-burnt aluminum pot
“they will not take the land from us,” all said — even the sun—
this is the place we came to germinate
the earth that gives us the strength to go on living
and then it was as in a dream:
the day became as transparent as crystal
and while on all roads on the earth
men and women came out to defend it
the sun wore water
and little by little it became stronger in their bodies
with each instant of resistance
that’s why when it descends and silently comes into the houses
it reminds us of the struggle for mother earth.

TEACHINGS OF THE SUN

And the sun came in softly through the roof of the house
until it reached the center of a great space
lit up in passing the ribs of a wet dog
and jumping took the smoke into its body
and began the ceremonial dance
of eternal return;
a man with hands smeared with black earth
twisted sisal between his legs
while the sun turned around the circle of time
on a just-burnt aluminum pot
“they will not take the land from us,” all said — even the sun—
this is the place we came to germinate
the earth that gives us the strength to go on living
and then it was as in a dream:
the day became as transparent as crystal
and while on all roads on the earth
men and women came out to defend it
the sun wore water
and little by little it became stronger in their bodies
with each instant of resistance
that’s why when it descends and silently comes into the houses
it reminds us of the struggle for mother earth.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère