SECTION NINE
  POETRY PAGE THREE


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COLUMN FIFTY-THREE, NOVEMBER 1, 2000
(Copyright © 2000 Al Aronowitz)


(Photo by Carlos Arturo Puerta)

[From Colombia's celebrated poet, Raúl Henao of Medellin, here's another poem in Spanish, accompanied by its English translation, both from Raúl's La vida a la carta or Life a la carte.]

ESPEJOS

“Wos acecha el cristal”
                J. L. Borges.

Los espejos mienten para volver a mirarse
en nuestros ojos 

En realidad somos su prole multiplicada, otros
espejos vacios como una sala  

Puertas abiertas a puertas adivinadas

Corredores de tiempo sin fondo donde nos precipitamos
cada mañana a pesar de la medida y el hábito  

Mirajes del agua quieta bajo la que acecha la
informe blancura  

Espectáculo de nuestros rostros simulados

Tableros del azar y el destino al que queremos
implacable y ajeno.  ##  

* * *  

MIRRORS

 

“The looking-glass lies in wait for us.”
                                              J. L. Borges

Mirrors deceive so they may gaze upon themselves again
in our eyes  

Actually, we are their multiplied progeny, other
mirrors empty as a parlor  

Doors open to doors intuited

Corridors of endless time into which we rush
each morning despite de force of moderation and habit  

Unformed whiteness lies in wait
under mirages of still water  

Spectacle of our simulated faces

Gameboards of chance and the fate we wish
were implacable and belonged to someone else instead.  ##

 

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