Poem
Maruja Vieira
ÁLVARO SANCLEMENTE
(1914-1949)
A small line under your full name
joins your birth
to your death
and a bitter time
of countless rocks
deepens your
remembrance.
Upon our pain,
profounder than dirges,
the new anguish
of your resigned farewell fell.
And we felt more
truly alone when
on holding out our hands
we did not find yours.
Confused, we looked
at each other looking for you.
For you were as transparent
as books and music.
But in that blind
and definitive hour
only death gave
its certain word.
To describe to those
who did not know you
how serene your
presence in our lives was
one must talk about the earth
where trees grow
and about the color of the wind
that bends the ears of wheat.
You were natural and pure,
the shadow does not rub you out
nor do the fingers of silence
darken your face.
To think about you
there are no useless tears.
It is enough to say ‘friend’
to feel you are near.
© Translation: 2006, Nicolás Suescún
ÁLVARO SANCLEMENTE
1914-1949
ÁLVARO SANCLEMENTE
1914-1949
Una pequeña línea bajo tu nombre intacto
une tu nacimiento
con tu muerte
y un tiempo amargo,
de incontables rocas
ahonda en la memoria
tu recuerdo.
Sobre nuestro dolor,
más profundo que el llanto,
cayó la angustia nueva
de tu adiós resignado.
Y nos sentimos solos
más verdaderamente
cuando al tender las nuestras
no encontramos tus manos.
Confusos nos miramos
uno al otro, buscándote.
Porque tú eras tan claro
como el libro y la música.
Pero en aquella hora
ciega y definitiva
la muerte sola daba
su palabra segura.
Para decir a aquellos
que no te conocieron
cómo era tu serena
presencia en nuestra vida
hay que hablar de la tierra
donde crecen los árboles
y del color del viento
que dobla las espigas.
Fuiste sencillo y puro.
No te borra la sombra
ni oscurecen tu rostro
los dedos del silencio.
Para pensar en ti
no hay lágrimas inútiles.
Basta decir ‘amigo’
para sentirte cerca.
© 2006, Maruja Vieira
From: Los Nombres de la Ausencia
Publisher: Ediciones “San Librario”, Bogotá
From: Los Nombres de la Ausencia
Publisher: Ediciones “San Librario”, Bogotá
Poems
Poems of Maruja Vieira
Close
ÁLVARO SANCLEMENTE
(1914-1949)
A small line under your full name
joins your birth
to your death
and a bitter time
of countless rocks
deepens your
remembrance.
Upon our pain,
profounder than dirges,
the new anguish
of your resigned farewell fell.
And we felt more
truly alone when
on holding out our hands
we did not find yours.
Confused, we looked
at each other looking for you.
For you were as transparent
as books and music.
But in that blind
and definitive hour
only death gave
its certain word.
To describe to those
who did not know you
how serene your
presence in our lives was
one must talk about the earth
where trees grow
and about the color of the wind
that bends the ears of wheat.
You were natural and pure,
the shadow does not rub you out
nor do the fingers of silence
darken your face.
To think about you
there are no useless tears.
It is enough to say ‘friend’
to feel you are near.
© 2006, Nicolás Suescún
From: Los Nombres de la Ausencia
From: Los Nombres de la Ausencia
ÁLVARO SANCLEMENTE
(1914-1949)
A small line under your full name
joins your birth
to your death
and a bitter time
of countless rocks
deepens your
remembrance.
Upon our pain,
profounder than dirges,
the new anguish
of your resigned farewell fell.
And we felt more
truly alone when
on holding out our hands
we did not find yours.
Confused, we looked
at each other looking for you.
For you were as transparent
as books and music.
But in that blind
and definitive hour
only death gave
its certain word.
To describe to those
who did not know you
how serene your
presence in our lives was
one must talk about the earth
where trees grow
and about the color of the wind
that bends the ears of wheat.
You were natural and pure,
the shadow does not rub you out
nor do the fingers of silence
darken your face.
To think about you
there are no useless tears.
It is enough to say ‘friend’
to feel you are near.
© 2006, Nicolás Suescún
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