Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

María Mercedes Carranza

Ode to love

On an afternoon you’ll never forget
he will come to your house and sit at the table.
Bit by bit he will have a place in every room,
on the walls and the furniture he will leave traces,
he will unmake the bed and make a hollow in the pillow.
The books in the bookcase, that precious texture of years
will take new places according to his taste and looks,
old photos will also change from here to there.
Other eyes will look at your customs,
your comings and goings between walls and embraces,
and everyday noises and odors will be different.
On one of these afternoons that you’ll never forget
he who unmade your house and inhabited your things
will go out through the door without saying goodbye.
You will have to begin redoing your house,
putting the furniture in its place, cleaning the walls
changing the lock, tearing up portraits,
sweeping everything to go on living.

Oda al amor

Oda al amor

Una tarde que nunca olvidarás
llega a tu casa y se sienta a la mesa.
Poco a poco tendrán un lugar en cada habitación,
en las paredes y los muebles estarán sus huellas,
descenderá tu cama y ahuecará la almohada.
Los libros de la biblioteca, precioso tejido de años,
se acomodarán a su gusto y semejanza,
cambiarán de lugar las fotos antiguas.
Otros ojos mirarán tus costumbres,
tu ir y venir entre paredes y abrazos
y serán distintos los ruidos cotidianos y los olores.
Cualquier tarde que ya nunca olvidarás
el que desbarató tu casa y habitó tus cosas
saldrá por la puerta sin decir adiós.
Deberás comenzar a hacer de nuevo la casa,
reacomodar los muebles, limpiar las paredes,
cambiar las cerraduras, romper retratos,
barrerlo todo, y seguir viviendo.
Close

Ode to love

On an afternoon you’ll never forget
he will come to your house and sit at the table.
Bit by bit he will have a place in every room,
on the walls and the furniture he will leave traces,
he will unmake the bed and make a hollow in the pillow.
The books in the bookcase, that precious texture of years
will take new places according to his taste and looks,
old photos will also change from here to there.
Other eyes will look at your customs,
your comings and goings between walls and embraces,
and everyday noises and odors will be different.
On one of these afternoons that you’ll never forget
he who unmade your house and inhabited your things
will go out through the door without saying goodbye.
You will have to begin redoing your house,
putting the furniture in its place, cleaning the walls
changing the lock, tearing up portraits,
sweeping everything to go on living.

Ode to love

On an afternoon you’ll never forget
he will come to your house and sit at the table.
Bit by bit he will have a place in every room,
on the walls and the furniture he will leave traces,
he will unmake the bed and make a hollow in the pillow.
The books in the bookcase, that precious texture of years
will take new places according to his taste and looks,
old photos will also change from here to there.
Other eyes will look at your customs,
your comings and goings between walls and embraces,
and everyday noises and odors will be different.
On one of these afternoons that you’ll never forget
he who unmade your house and inhabited your things
will go out through the door without saying goodbye.
You will have to begin redoing your house,
putting the furniture in its place, cleaning the walls
changing the lock, tearing up portraits,
sweeping everything to go on living.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère