Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

María Mercedes Carranza

If you want love
let it follow its whims

I have forgotten all the names,
the names of my dead and of my sons.
I don’t recognize the odours of my house
nor the sound of the key turning in the door.

I do not remember the timbre of my most cherished voices
nor do I see the things my eyes look at.
Words sound without me understanding them,
I am a stranger on these intimate streets
and there is no happiness or unhappiness that can wound me.

I have scratched out my history of forty years.
I love you.

Si quieres amor
que siga sus antojos

Si quieres amor
que siga sus antojos

He olvidado los nombres de todos,
los nombres de todos mis muertos y los de mis hijos.
No reconozco los olores de mi casa
ni el sonido de la llave que gira en la puerta.

No recuerdo el metal de las voces más queridas
ni veo las cosas que mis ojos miran.
Las palabras suenan sin que yo comprenda,
soy extranjera por estas calles íntimas
y no hay dicha ni desdicha que me hieran

He borrado mi historia de 40 años.
Te amo.
Close

If you want love
let it follow its whims

I have forgotten all the names,
the names of my dead and of my sons.
I don’t recognize the odours of my house
nor the sound of the key turning in the door.

I do not remember the timbre of my most cherished voices
nor do I see the things my eyes look at.
Words sound without me understanding them,
I am a stranger on these intimate streets
and there is no happiness or unhappiness that can wound me.

I have scratched out my history of forty years.
I love you.

If you want love
let it follow its whims

I have forgotten all the names,
the names of my dead and of my sons.
I don’t recognize the odours of my house
nor the sound of the key turning in the door.

I do not remember the timbre of my most cherished voices
nor do I see the things my eyes look at.
Words sound without me understanding them,
I am a stranger on these intimate streets
and there is no happiness or unhappiness that can wound me.

I have scratched out my history of forty years.
I love you.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère