Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Gustavo Gac-Artigas

convocation

i call upon you

poet prisoner

you who have languished for a hundred years

deprived of freedom

 

i call upon you

solitary man

who leads a life

deprived of friendship

 

i call upon you

woman

who carries on your back

the weight of an ancient curse

 

 

i call upon you

little girl who drowns and dies

clinging to your father’s neck 

dreaming of a rag doll

 

i call upon you

rag doll

that fruitlessly awaits a caress

 

i call upon you

reader who lets yourself be lulled by the rhythm of this verse

and doesn’t tremble at its roar

 

 

i command you

to free me of bitterness

to let me live in hope

so that i can be me

i call upon you

i command you

i implore you

do not reject me

let me die in your embrace

 

let me be reborn in your arms

convocatoria

convocatoria

a ti te convoco

poeta prisionero

que llevas cien años

privado de libertad

 

a ti te convoco

hombre solitario 

que llevas una vida

privado de amistad

 

a ti te convoco

mujer 

que cargas con el peso

de la maldición sobre tu espalda

 

a ti te convoco

niña que mueres ahogada 

abrazada al cuello de tu padre

soñando con una muñeca de trapo

 

a ti te convoco

muñeca de trapo

que inútilmente esperas una caricia

 

a ti te convoco

lector que te dejaste mecer por la cadencia del verso

y no te estremeces por su rugido

 

a ti te conmino

para que me libres de la amargura

para que me permitas vivir en la esperanza

para que yo pueda ser yo

 

te convoco

te conmino

te imploro

no me repudies

permíteme morir en ti

 

permíteme renacer en ti

Close

convocation

i call upon you

poet prisoner

you who have languished for a hundred years

deprived of freedom

 

i call upon you

solitary man

who leads a life

deprived of friendship

 

i call upon you

woman

who carries on your back

the weight of an ancient curse

 

 

i call upon you

little girl who drowns and dies

clinging to your father’s neck 

dreaming of a rag doll

 

i call upon you

rag doll

that fruitlessly awaits a caress

 

i call upon you

reader who lets yourself be lulled by the rhythm of this verse

and doesn’t tremble at its roar

 

 

i command you

to free me of bitterness

to let me live in hope

so that i can be me

i call upon you

i command you

i implore you

do not reject me

let me die in your embrace

 

let me be reborn in your arms

convocation

i call upon you

poet prisoner

you who have languished for a hundred years

deprived of freedom

 

i call upon you

solitary man

who leads a life

deprived of friendship

 

i call upon you

woman

who carries on your back

the weight of an ancient curse

 

 

i call upon you

little girl who drowns and dies

clinging to your father’s neck 

dreaming of a rag doll

 

i call upon you

rag doll

that fruitlessly awaits a caress

 

i call upon you

reader who lets yourself be lulled by the rhythm of this verse

and doesn’t tremble at its roar

 

 

i command you

to free me of bitterness

to let me live in hope

so that i can be me

i call upon you

i command you

i implore you

do not reject me

let me die in your embrace

 

let me be reborn in your arms

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère