Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jotamario Arbeláez

OBLIVION IS IN THE MAILBOX

The mailman is spinning his cap early on his bicycle today
The mailman who goes around delivering a host of information
Mailbox number eight is where the dog of my hope barks
Into that mailbox have fallen some of the most unjust excommunications and dead leaves

This is not a love poem this is let’s say quite an oblivion
Where to put this oblivion that’s as heavy as my bad luck

Oblivion oblivion it is good to oblivionize when one is the oblivious
You’re welcome oblivion tomorrow you’ll be damned at the other end

I welcome and I am happy with this oblivious guest of my sympathies
This oblivion beneficial for my glands
Which has the faculty of telling me about the time in which I live
And I turn the keys
The long distances covered under the hole in my sock
The contagious smell of tobacco pouches
The cold nocturnal screech of trumpets
The sharpness of poisons on the tips of my words
The silk softness of cushions in the barbershop
Where every two years they shave away my past

Which bed drawer to empty to lay this beloved oblivion to rest
This oblivion that has more strengths than all the forces of my soul
That has more right to life than the son of a female pope
Where to leave it with its wings pinned
So that it does not escape like a penitent or like a butterfly

How to protect this oblivion that has more fingers than a typist
That could not be bought with a million fish
How to protect this oblivion so that people won’t step on it
Insure it in the most powerful insurance company in the world?
Not that not ever
Found a shelter for oblivions?
Place it in storage like a jewel in the vaults of a bank?
Put it in the aroma of the rose that I pin on my breast lapel?
Give it to the notary who has already falsified my will four times?
Bottle it and cast it from my schooner with a firm stopper
          so that it won\'t drown in the ocean?

I don’t know what to do with this oblivion that’s disappearing from my memory

EN EL BUZÓN ESTÁ EL OLVIDO

EN EL BUZÓN ESTÁ EL OLVIDO

El cartero rueda hoy temprano su gorra sobre su bicicleta 
El cartero que va repartiendo la hostia de la información.

En el buzón número ocho que es donde ladra el perro de mi esperanza
En ese buzón recayeron las más injustas excomuniones y hojas muertas

Esto no es un poema de amor esto es digamos todo un olvido
Dónde colocar este olvido que es tan pesado como mi mala estrella

Olvido olvido es muy bueno olvidar cuando uno es el que olvida
Sé bienvenido olvido mañana serás maldecido en la otra punta

Yo saludo y estoy contento con este olvido huésped de mis simpatías
Este olvido bueno para mis glándulas
Que tiene la facultad de informarme la hora donde vivo
Y giro las llaves
Las largas distancias vencidas bajo el roto de mi calcetín
El olor contagioso de las tabacaleras
La fría estridulación nocturna de las trompetas
La acidez de los venenos en la punta de mis palabras
La suavidad de la seda de los cojines de la peluquería
Donde me afeitan cada dos años el pasado

Qué gaveta de mi cama desocupar para poner a dormir este olvido que amo
Este olvido que tiene más fuerzas que todas las de mi alma
Que tiene más derecho a la vida que el hijo de una papisa
Dónde dónde dejarlo con las alas clavadas
Para que no se me escape como un nazareno o como una mariposa

Cómo proteger este olvido que tiene más dedos que una mecanógrafa
Que no podría comprarse con un millón de peces
Cómo proteger este olvido para que la gente no lo pise
Asegurarlo en la más poderosa compañía del mundo?
No eso no eso nunca
Fundar el asilo de olvidos?
Depositarlo como una joya en las arcas del banco?
Colocarlo entre el aroma de la rosa que clavo de solapa en mi pecho?
Entregarlo al notario que ha falsificado cuatro veces mi testamento?
Embotellarlo y arrojarlo desde mi goleta con un firme tapón
      No sea que se vaya a ahogar el océano?

No sé qué hacer con este olvido que se me está yendo de la memoria
Close

OBLIVION IS IN THE MAILBOX

The mailman is spinning his cap early on his bicycle today
The mailman who goes around delivering a host of information
Mailbox number eight is where the dog of my hope barks
Into that mailbox have fallen some of the most unjust excommunications and dead leaves

This is not a love poem this is let’s say quite an oblivion
Where to put this oblivion that’s as heavy as my bad luck

Oblivion oblivion it is good to oblivionize when one is the oblivious
You’re welcome oblivion tomorrow you’ll be damned at the other end

I welcome and I am happy with this oblivious guest of my sympathies
This oblivion beneficial for my glands
Which has the faculty of telling me about the time in which I live
And I turn the keys
The long distances covered under the hole in my sock
The contagious smell of tobacco pouches
The cold nocturnal screech of trumpets
The sharpness of poisons on the tips of my words
The silk softness of cushions in the barbershop
Where every two years they shave away my past

Which bed drawer to empty to lay this beloved oblivion to rest
This oblivion that has more strengths than all the forces of my soul
That has more right to life than the son of a female pope
Where to leave it with its wings pinned
So that it does not escape like a penitent or like a butterfly

How to protect this oblivion that has more fingers than a typist
That could not be bought with a million fish
How to protect this oblivion so that people won’t step on it
Insure it in the most powerful insurance company in the world?
Not that not ever
Found a shelter for oblivions?
Place it in storage like a jewel in the vaults of a bank?
Put it in the aroma of the rose that I pin on my breast lapel?
Give it to the notary who has already falsified my will four times?
Bottle it and cast it from my schooner with a firm stopper
          so that it won\'t drown in the ocean?

I don’t know what to do with this oblivion that’s disappearing from my memory

OBLIVION IS IN THE MAILBOX

The mailman is spinning his cap early on his bicycle today
The mailman who goes around delivering a host of information
Mailbox number eight is where the dog of my hope barks
Into that mailbox have fallen some of the most unjust excommunications and dead leaves

This is not a love poem this is let’s say quite an oblivion
Where to put this oblivion that’s as heavy as my bad luck

Oblivion oblivion it is good to oblivionize when one is the oblivious
You’re welcome oblivion tomorrow you’ll be damned at the other end

I welcome and I am happy with this oblivious guest of my sympathies
This oblivion beneficial for my glands
Which has the faculty of telling me about the time in which I live
And I turn the keys
The long distances covered under the hole in my sock
The contagious smell of tobacco pouches
The cold nocturnal screech of trumpets
The sharpness of poisons on the tips of my words
The silk softness of cushions in the barbershop
Where every two years they shave away my past

Which bed drawer to empty to lay this beloved oblivion to rest
This oblivion that has more strengths than all the forces of my soul
That has more right to life than the son of a female pope
Where to leave it with its wings pinned
So that it does not escape like a penitent or like a butterfly

How to protect this oblivion that has more fingers than a typist
That could not be bought with a million fish
How to protect this oblivion so that people won’t step on it
Insure it in the most powerful insurance company in the world?
Not that not ever
Found a shelter for oblivions?
Place it in storage like a jewel in the vaults of a bank?
Put it in the aroma of the rose that I pin on my breast lapel?
Give it to the notary who has already falsified my will four times?
Bottle it and cast it from my schooner with a firm stopper
          so that it won\'t drown in the ocean?

I don’t know what to do with this oblivion that’s disappearing from my memory
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