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Juan Gelman

72 years old
Mexico, D.F.

Argentine poet and journalist. First National Prize of Poetry 1992-1995, Argentine. Prize of Latin american and Caribbean Literature Juan Rulfo 2000, México.


Sucede/It happens

Sucede

No le cuesta nada sembrar la muerte
envuelto en sentimientos cristianos.
Cristo era hijo de un carpintero
y no hijo de un Bush, me parece.
O me parece mal y es dulce dicha
la muerte envuelta en sentimientos cristianos.
No es tema de meditación para los que van a
                                        caer.
Ellos van a caer y no más.
Prefiero ser gusano a ser Bush
El prefiere ser Bush.
Su vacío está lleno de mierda vieja.
Un ave corta el cielo en dos.
¡Salud al ave con el invierno al hombro!
¡Salud a los que tejen un NO de aire en el
                                       aire!
¡De ellos será la forma humana,
el viaje y la alma tibia!
¡Salud!
¡Salud!


It happens

It costs him nothing to spread death
wrapped up in christian sentiments.
Christ was a carpenter'son
and not son of a Bush, or so I understand.
Or do not understand and it is a sweat
                                 pleasure
this death wrapped up in christian
                             sentiments,
For those who fall it is not something
                              to meditate.
They will fall and that's it.
I would rather be a worm than Bush.
He would rather be Bush.
His emptiness fill with old shit.
A bird cuts heaven in two.
Hurrah for the bird with winter at its back!
Hurrah for those who weave a NO of air in
                                  the air!
For theirs is the human shape,
the journey and the warm soul!
Hurrah!
Hurrah!


(Translation: Jean Franco)


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