SECTION THIRTEEN
POETRY PAGE TWO


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


(PHOTO BY JORGE ALVAREZ)

[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.]

NUEVAS AMISTADES

El fuego hacía presa del marco tallado
de las nuevas amistades
que siempre caminan del brazo del primer
desconocido que pasa bajo un paraguas. 

Los últimos días de abril tenían la dureza
de la reja de arado

manos enviadas por telégrafo, besos con empaque
dentífrico, encuentros en el rellano de la escalera
la cara o sello de la moneda que duraba en el aire
de la tarde cortante como una hoja de afeitar  

A la luz de una vela amenazada por la mañana
no se sabía si esa muchacha entraba o salía
del baño.  ##  

* * *

NEW FRIENDS

Fire snared the carved frame
of the new friends  

who always walk on the arm of the first stranger
who passes under an umbrella.  

The last days of april had the harsh edge
of the ploughshare  

telegraphed hands, dentifrice-packed kisses,
encounters on the landing of the staircase  

the face or stamp of the coin that remained
in the afternoon air cutting as a razor blade
 

By the light of a candle menaced by morning
it was hard to tell if that girl was getting in
or out of the bath.  ##  

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