Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Luis Eduardo Rendón

MANDRAKE OR THE ROOT OF TIME

In a dark living room
before a burning candle we look at each other in silence

and the transmutation takes place:
like in a movie theater faces from several ages emerge
which for an instant have the privilege of meeting each other again

as we move away one meter we place ourselves as a century ago
as we move away two meters, as two centuries ago
and our face changes
the farther away the more a sorcerer

we travel guided by aromas
childhood resembles the Middle Ages
the far ends of the living room, prehistory
and ferns sprout from the silhouettes

centuries of steps and glances
very near us we notice a baby

the present is an embrace before the flame that when going out
will plunge us in the chaos of not seeing each other

MANDRÁGORA O RAÍZ DEL TIEMPO

MANDRÁGORA O RAÍZ DEL TIEMPO

En una sala oscura
ante una vela encendida nos miramos en silencio

y sucede la transmutación:
como en un cine brotan semblantes de seres de diversas épocas
que por un instante tienen el privilegio de reencontrarse

al alejarnos un metro nos situamos como hace un siglo
al alejarnos dos metros como hace dos
y cambia nuestro semblante
mientras más lejos más brujo

viajamos por aromas
la infancia se asemeja a la Edad Media
los extremos de la sala a la prehistoria
y helechos brotan de las siluetas

siglos de pasos y miradas
muy cerca de nosotros advertimos un bebé

el presente es un abrazo ante la llama que al apagarse
nos arrojará al caos de no vernos

Close

MANDRAKE OR THE ROOT OF TIME

In a dark living room
before a burning candle we look at each other in silence

and the transmutation takes place:
like in a movie theater faces from several ages emerge
which for an instant have the privilege of meeting each other again

as we move away one meter we place ourselves as a century ago
as we move away two meters, as two centuries ago
and our face changes
the farther away the more a sorcerer

we travel guided by aromas
childhood resembles the Middle Ages
the far ends of the living room, prehistory
and ferns sprout from the silhouettes

centuries of steps and glances
very near us we notice a baby

the present is an embrace before the flame that when going out
will plunge us in the chaos of not seeing each other

MANDRAKE OR THE ROOT OF TIME

In a dark living room
before a burning candle we look at each other in silence

and the transmutation takes place:
like in a movie theater faces from several ages emerge
which for an instant have the privilege of meeting each other again

as we move away one meter we place ourselves as a century ago
as we move away two meters, as two centuries ago
and our face changes
the farther away the more a sorcerer

we travel guided by aromas
childhood resembles the Middle Ages
the far ends of the living room, prehistory
and ferns sprout from the silhouettes

centuries of steps and glances
very near us we notice a baby

the present is an embrace before the flame that when going out
will plunge us in the chaos of not seeing each other

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Gemeente Rotterdam
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