Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Sara Uribe

Instructions for counting the dead

First, the dates, like the names, are the most important.
The name, even more than the caliber of the bullets.

Second, sit in front of a monitor. Search out the crime
news from all the newspapers online. Preserve the
memory of those who have died.

Third, count both innocent and guilty,
killers, children, soldiers, civilians,
mayors, migrants, vendors, kidnappers,
police.

Count them all.

Name them all so as to say: this body
could be mine.

The body of one of my own.

So as not to forget that all the bodies without names
are our lost bodies.

My name is Antígona González and I am searching among the
dead for the corpse of my brother.

Instructies voor het tellen van doden

Eén, de data, en de namen, zijn het allerbelangrijkst.
De naam meer nog dan het kaliber van de kogels.

Twee, voor een monitor gaan zitten. In alle online
kranten naar rampberichten zoeken. De herinnering
bewaren aan degenen die zijn gestorven.

Drie, onschuldigen en schuldigen tellen,
huurmoordenaars, kinderen, soldaten, burgers,
burgemeesters, migranten, verkopers, ontvoerders,
politieagenten.

Iedereen tellen.

Iedereen noemen om te zeggen: dit lichaam zou
het mijne kunnen zijn.

Het lichaam van een van de mijnen.

Om niet te vergeten dat al die naamloze lichamen
onze verloren lichamen zijn.

Ik heet Antígona González en ik zoek tussen de doden
naar het lijk van mijn broer.

 

 

Instrucciones para contar muertos

Uno, las fechas, como los nombres, son lo más
importante. El nombre por encima del calibre de
las balas.

Dos, sentarse frente a un monitor. Buscar la nota               
roja de todos los periódicos en línea. Mantener la
memoria de quienes han muerto.

Tres, contar inocentes y culpables, sicarios, niños,
militares, civiles, presidentes municipales,
migrantes, vendedores, secuestradores, policías.

Contarlos a todos.

Nombrarlos a todos para decir: este cuerpo podría           
ser el mío. 

El cuerpo de uno de los míos. 

Para no olvidar que todos los cuerpos sin nombre
son nuestros cuerpos perdidos.

Me llamo Antígona González y busco entre los
muertos el cadáver de mi hermano.

Close

Instructions for counting the dead

First, the dates, like the names, are the most important.
The name, even more than the caliber of the bullets.

Second, sit in front of a monitor. Search out the crime
news from all the newspapers online. Preserve the
memory of those who have died.

Third, count both innocent and guilty,
killers, children, soldiers, civilians,
mayors, migrants, vendors, kidnappers,
police.

Count them all.

Name them all so as to say: this body
could be mine.

The body of one of my own.

So as not to forget that all the bodies without names
are our lost bodies.

My name is Antígona González and I am searching among the
dead for the corpse of my brother.

Instructions for counting the dead

First, the dates, like the names, are the most important.
The name, even more than the caliber of the bullets.

Second, sit in front of a monitor. Search out the crime
news from all the newspapers online. Preserve the
memory of those who have died.

Third, count both innocent and guilty,
killers, children, soldiers, civilians,
mayors, migrants, vendors, kidnappers,
police.

Count them all.

Name them all so as to say: this body
could be mine.

The body of one of my own.

So as not to forget that all the bodies without names
are our lost bodies.

My name is Antígona González and I am searching among the
dead for the corpse of my brother.

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère