Poem
Piedad Bonnet
ALL QUIET ON THE FRONT
At this timeCecilio would be bleeding the cow:
he would say to her “quiet” with his nocturnal voice.
And Antonio, at this time, would be writing
“received” with his wobbly handwriting.
What would Luis be doing? Perhaps he would be helping
his youngest brother to add and subtract,
maybe he would be saying goodbye to his mother
caressing her hair with his hand.
(Cecilio, Antonio, Luis, conjectural names
for faces born of other faces)
Cecilio is black like his mother’s skirt with flowers.
Antonio has acne and suffers on Saturdays
when he goes to a dance and sees a pretty girl.
Luis is tall and kind and still a virgin.
At this time
one of them looks to the South, where his sister
has lighted a candle. A buzzard
pecks his forehead. The other
seems to be singing, so open
is his mouth at this early hour. The same
in which the third one
(tall and serviceable and still a virgin)
seems to be sleeping
with a flower of blood on his penis.
On his breast there is a scapular.
Everything in the countryside keeps quiet.
Sooner or later someone will come for them.
© Translation: 2005, Nicolás Suescún
SIN NOVEDAD EN EL FRENTE
SIN NOVEDAD EN EL FRENTE
En esta misma horaCecilio estaría sangrando la vaca:
le diría “quieta” con su voz nocturna.
Y Antonio en esta misma hora, escribiría
con su letra patoja, “recibido.”
¿Qué haría Luis? Quizás le ayudaría
a su hermano menor hacer sumas y restas,
quizás se despidiera de su madre
pasándole la mano por el pelo.
(Cecilio, Antonio, Luis, nombres conjeturales
para rostros nacidos de otros rostros)
Cecilio es negro como el faldón con flores de su madre.
Antonio tiene acné y sufre los sábados
cuando va a un baile y ve a una muchacha hermosa.
Luis es largo y amable y virgen todavía.
En esta misma hora,
uno mira hacia el sur, donde su hermana
ha encendido una vela. Un gallinazo
picotea su frente. El otro
parece que estuviera cantando, tan abierta
tiene la boca a tan temprana hora. La misma
en que el tercero,
(largo y amable y virgen todavía)
parece que durmiera
con una flor de sangre sobre el sexo.
Sobre su pecho hay un escapulario.
Todo en el monte calla.
Ya alguien vendrá por ellos.
© 2004, Piedad Bonnett
From: Tretas del débil
From: Tretas del débil
Poems
Poems of Piedad Bonnet
Close
ALL QUIET ON THE FRONT
At this timeCecilio would be bleeding the cow:
he would say to her “quiet” with his nocturnal voice.
And Antonio, at this time, would be writing
“received” with his wobbly handwriting.
What would Luis be doing? Perhaps he would be helping
his youngest brother to add and subtract,
maybe he would be saying goodbye to his mother
caressing her hair with his hand.
(Cecilio, Antonio, Luis, conjectural names
for faces born of other faces)
Cecilio is black like his mother’s skirt with flowers.
Antonio has acne and suffers on Saturdays
when he goes to a dance and sees a pretty girl.
Luis is tall and kind and still a virgin.
At this time
one of them looks to the South, where his sister
has lighted a candle. A buzzard
pecks his forehead. The other
seems to be singing, so open
is his mouth at this early hour. The same
in which the third one
(tall and serviceable and still a virgin)
seems to be sleeping
with a flower of blood on his penis.
On his breast there is a scapular.
Everything in the countryside keeps quiet.
Sooner or later someone will come for them.
© 2005, Nicolás Suescún
From: Tretas del débil
From: Tretas del débil
ALL QUIET ON THE FRONT
At this timeCecilio would be bleeding the cow:
he would say to her “quiet” with his nocturnal voice.
And Antonio, at this time, would be writing
“received” with his wobbly handwriting.
What would Luis be doing? Perhaps he would be helping
his youngest brother to add and subtract,
maybe he would be saying goodbye to his mother
caressing her hair with his hand.
(Cecilio, Antonio, Luis, conjectural names
for faces born of other faces)
Cecilio is black like his mother’s skirt with flowers.
Antonio has acne and suffers on Saturdays
when he goes to a dance and sees a pretty girl.
Luis is tall and kind and still a virgin.
At this time
one of them looks to the South, where his sister
has lighted a candle. A buzzard
pecks his forehead. The other
seems to be singing, so open
is his mouth at this early hour. The same
in which the third one
(tall and serviceable and still a virgin)
seems to be sleeping
with a flower of blood on his penis.
On his breast there is a scapular.
Everything in the countryside keeps quiet.
Sooner or later someone will come for them.
© 2005, Nicolás Suescún
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