Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

William Agudelo

My Chemistry Pupils

The one with the beautiful straight and hemp-yellow mane of hair
(“The Thrush of Llanadas”) who sings wisely letting out
the soft thin stream of her voice
the one with the nice smile marred by a broken tooth
the coquette with the eyelids painted blue
the one with the delicious innocent face with her golden thin
                                                                              downy arms on the desk
the shy one, the thin one the one with clean eyes the serious one
the intelligent and jumpy fat one
the submissive one with big teats
the tawny one with precocious glasses
who puts me on the spot all the time with her questions
the round-faced hypnotic cynical lazy one
the hypocritical sharp-faced rebel
and beautiful teeth and those who charm:
Alba Lía, Ofelia, Bertha Matilde,
Blanca Rosa, Martha Jael, Eunisse,
Martha Ligia, Lilia Londoño, Hiddalid, Solángel,
all in my heart of inexperienced teacher
frightened in the first classes
Martha Cecilia, Silvia, Yolanda,
Lilia Márquez, Lilia Novoa, Amparo Jiménez,
Amparo Madrid, Teresa, Rosalía
little group of girls sitting in the rows of desks
covering their knees with the hem of the white and brown checked uniform
enthralled with the pencil point in their mouth 
                                               their eyes in the ceiling
worried pensive – merry however –
diligent lazy sharp stupid
tender like she-rabbits and coquettish
frightened in the daily lessons
and much more so in the exams
the grey notebook of grades
with the tiny squares
3                      2,5                  5                    4:
the effort to memorise practical applications
monotonous formulas boring laws
confused by properties of matter
every morning with their hair wet
hanging tightly on their nape
the well shined ridiculous flat-pointed shoes
the “Good morning teacher” from warm breasts
and then the bent heads
all of them scribbling
                                       on the blue-lined notebooks.

Mis alumnas de química

Mis alumnas de química

La de la mata de pelo lisa y amarilla bella como cabuya
(“La Mirla de Llanadas”) que canta soltando
con sabiduría el dulce chorrito de su voz
la de la simpática sonrisa fruncida por su diente quebrado
la coqueta con los párpados pintados de azul
la cari-inocente deliciosa con los bracitos dorados 
                                                          felpudos puestos sobre el pupitre
la tímida la delgada la ojilimpia la seria
la gordita inteligente y brincona
la tetoncita sumisa
la morenita de gafas precoces
que pone en aprietos con sus preguntas
la remolona cari-redonda cínica hipnótica
la rebelde hipócrita de cara perfilada
y hermosa dentadura las que encantan:
Alba Lía, Ofelia, Bertha Matilde,
Blanca Rosa, Martha Jael, Eunisse,
Martha Ligia, Lilia Londoño, Hiddalid, Solángel,
todas en mi corazón de profesor novato
atemorizado en las primeras clases
Martha Cecilia, Silvia, Yolanda,
Lilia Márquez, Lilia Novoa, Amparo Jiménez,
Amparo Madrid, Teresa, Rosalía
muchachas del grupito sentadas en las filas de pupitres
tapándose las rodillas con la bata a cuadritos blancos y cafés
abstraídas con la punta del lápiz en la boca
                                                                       y los ojos en el techo
preocupadas pensativas – festivas sin embargo –
diligentes perezosas agudas estúpidas
tiernas como conejas y coquetas
miedosas en las lecciones diarias
muchísimo más en los exámenes
el cuaderno gris de calificaciones
con los cuadros minúsculos
3                        2,5                  5                 4:
los esfuerzos por memorizar aplicaciones prácticas
fórmulas monótonas leyes cansonas
propiedades que se les confunden
todas las mañanas con el pelo mojado
colgando apretado sobre las nucas
las ñatas zapatillas ridículas bien lustradas
                                                               y los calcetines blancos
el “Buenos días profe” salido tibio de los pechos
y después las cabezas inclinadas
garrapateando todas
                                       en cuadernos de rayado azul.
Close

My Chemistry Pupils

The one with the beautiful straight and hemp-yellow mane of hair
(“The Thrush of Llanadas”) who sings wisely letting out
the soft thin stream of her voice
the one with the nice smile marred by a broken tooth
the coquette with the eyelids painted blue
the one with the delicious innocent face with her golden thin
                                                                              downy arms on the desk
the shy one, the thin one the one with clean eyes the serious one
the intelligent and jumpy fat one
the submissive one with big teats
the tawny one with precocious glasses
who puts me on the spot all the time with her questions
the round-faced hypnotic cynical lazy one
the hypocritical sharp-faced rebel
and beautiful teeth and those who charm:
Alba Lía, Ofelia, Bertha Matilde,
Blanca Rosa, Martha Jael, Eunisse,
Martha Ligia, Lilia Londoño, Hiddalid, Solángel,
all in my heart of inexperienced teacher
frightened in the first classes
Martha Cecilia, Silvia, Yolanda,
Lilia Márquez, Lilia Novoa, Amparo Jiménez,
Amparo Madrid, Teresa, Rosalía
little group of girls sitting in the rows of desks
covering their knees with the hem of the white and brown checked uniform
enthralled with the pencil point in their mouth 
                                               their eyes in the ceiling
worried pensive – merry however –
diligent lazy sharp stupid
tender like she-rabbits and coquettish
frightened in the daily lessons
and much more so in the exams
the grey notebook of grades
with the tiny squares
3                      2,5                  5                    4:
the effort to memorise practical applications
monotonous formulas boring laws
confused by properties of matter
every morning with their hair wet
hanging tightly on their nape
the well shined ridiculous flat-pointed shoes
the “Good morning teacher” from warm breasts
and then the bent heads
all of them scribbling
                                       on the blue-lined notebooks.

My Chemistry Pupils

The one with the beautiful straight and hemp-yellow mane of hair
(“The Thrush of Llanadas”) who sings wisely letting out
the soft thin stream of her voice
the one with the nice smile marred by a broken tooth
the coquette with the eyelids painted blue
the one with the delicious innocent face with her golden thin
                                                                              downy arms on the desk
the shy one, the thin one the one with clean eyes the serious one
the intelligent and jumpy fat one
the submissive one with big teats
the tawny one with precocious glasses
who puts me on the spot all the time with her questions
the round-faced hypnotic cynical lazy one
the hypocritical sharp-faced rebel
and beautiful teeth and those who charm:
Alba Lía, Ofelia, Bertha Matilde,
Blanca Rosa, Martha Jael, Eunisse,
Martha Ligia, Lilia Londoño, Hiddalid, Solángel,
all in my heart of inexperienced teacher
frightened in the first classes
Martha Cecilia, Silvia, Yolanda,
Lilia Márquez, Lilia Novoa, Amparo Jiménez,
Amparo Madrid, Teresa, Rosalía
little group of girls sitting in the rows of desks
covering their knees with the hem of the white and brown checked uniform
enthralled with the pencil point in their mouth 
                                               their eyes in the ceiling
worried pensive – merry however –
diligent lazy sharp stupid
tender like she-rabbits and coquettish
frightened in the daily lessons
and much more so in the exams
the grey notebook of grades
with the tiny squares
3                      2,5                  5                    4:
the effort to memorise practical applications
monotonous formulas boring laws
confused by properties of matter
every morning with their hair wet
hanging tightly on their nape
the well shined ridiculous flat-pointed shoes
the “Good morning teacher” from warm breasts
and then the bent heads
all of them scribbling
                                       on the blue-lined notebooks.
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