Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Fernando Linero

Singing

This afternoon in ruins from where I sing
awaiting the time that looks for me, my time.
With less ambition than nostalgia the voice rises
and its music is to a dried up soul
the same as a homemade balm.
Not having found a sense of happiness
under the waning sun I sing
— lost my faith in certain words —
for the poor in spirit,
for those who have no cure
for those who search for God in gluttony.
Staggering between solitude and dawn
from my cracking battlements I raise my voice.
But at times I keep silent
— having lost faith in certain matters —
and I listen to the wind riding over the tamarinds.

Cantando

Cantando

Tarde en ruinas desde la que canto,
esperando la hora que me busca, mi hora.
Con menos ambición que nostalgia se alza la voz
y su música es al alma seca
igual que un bálsamo casero.
Sin haber encontrado el sentido a la felicidad
bajo la tarde canto,
— perdida ya la fe en ciertas palabras —
para los pobres de espíritu,
para los que no tienen más remedio,
para los que buscan a Dios con glotonería.
Dando tumbos entre la soledad y el alba
desde mis cuarteadas almenas levanto la voz.
Pero a veces quedo en silencio,
— perdida ya la fe en ciertos asuntos —
y escucho al viento cabalgar sobre los tamarindos.
Close

Singing

This afternoon in ruins from where I sing
awaiting the time that looks for me, my time.
With less ambition than nostalgia the voice rises
and its music is to a dried up soul
the same as a homemade balm.
Not having found a sense of happiness
under the waning sun I sing
— lost my faith in certain words —
for the poor in spirit,
for those who have no cure
for those who search for God in gluttony.
Staggering between solitude and dawn
from my cracking battlements I raise my voice.
But at times I keep silent
— having lost faith in certain matters —
and I listen to the wind riding over the tamarinds.

Singing

This afternoon in ruins from where I sing
awaiting the time that looks for me, my time.
With less ambition than nostalgia the voice rises
and its music is to a dried up soul
the same as a homemade balm.
Not having found a sense of happiness
under the waning sun I sing
— lost my faith in certain words —
for the poor in spirit,
for those who have no cure
for those who search for God in gluttony.
Staggering between solitude and dawn
from my cracking battlements I raise my voice.
But at times I keep silent
— having lost faith in certain matters —
and I listen to the wind riding over the tamarinds.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère