James Appleby

Translated by James Appleby

1. Asking again / VOLTA A PEDIR

   

   

   ENGSPA

   I’m not asking it to overcome, at once,

   blue starling nausea,

   not asking it to clamber from the fatherland’s sewers.

   Not asking it to endure, to keep time or hold a tune.

   Not asking it to be balanced or gradual,

   not to replicate a moral existence

   or to calculate precisely the toasts of Europe,

   not asking it to be both subtle and unanimous,

   not asking it to contribute, appease, restore,

   not asking for achievement

   or for silence.

    

   I am only asking

   please

   let it be

   cheaper.

   Translated by James Appleby

   Non lle pido que supere, dun brinco, a náusea azul

                                                coma estorniños,

   non lle pido que remonte os sumidoiros da patria.

   Non lle pido que aguante, que mida e mais que entoe.

   Non lle pido que sexa nivelado, paulatino.

   Non lle pido que replique unha existencia moral,

   nin que poida cifrar todos os brindes de Europa.

   Que sexa ao mesmo tempo unánime e sutil,

   non lle pido que propicie, aplaque, reivindique.

   Non lle pido que logre,

   non lle pido que cale.

    

   Só lle pido que sexa

   máis

   barato.

2. Wheels of Obedience / NORIAS DE OBEDIENCIA

   

   

   ENGSPA

   Like the mechanical arm of the dawn.

   Like a vertical assembly-line organ.

   Like a stubborn mine, a fishing hole, a lathe.

   Rotation and press, your wheel of obedience.

    

   Every quarter-hour, the crank of extraction.

   Like steam-engine provinces,

   like hierarchy and forge.

    

   The night wrote me its contract, like it would a forest.

    

   In the morning, at midday, through afternoon,

   when our favour stalks us open-eyed.

    

   Like an emporium,

   like a chain,

   I have

   to be

   productive.

   Translated by James Appleby

   Coma o brazo mecánico da alborada.

   Coma un órgano vertical, manufactura.

   Coma minas tenaces, caladoiro, un torno.

   Coma prensa e rotación, a súa noria de obediencia.

    

   A cada cuarto de hora a manivela da obtención.

   Coma provincias a vapor,

   coma fragua e xerarquía.

    

   A noite deume emprego, como a un bosque.

    

   Polas mañás, ao mediodía, á tarde,

   á hora en que o favor axexa os ollos espertos.

    

   Coma emporios,

   coma cadeas,

   teño que ser

   produtiva.

3. Testament / TESTAMENTO

   

   

   ENGSPA

   I had never thought of death

   but I sold my teeth and bought a house.

    

   Early mornings bloated

   as a washed pig bladder.

   Hormone harvest. Burden, oxygen.

   Belonging to loss

   versus losing belongings.

    

   The idea of non-being came with my possessions.

    

   The only treasure map

   is not needing one.

   Translated by James Appleby

   Nunca pensara na morte

   pero vendín os meus dentes e merquei unha casa.

    

   Inflábase a madrugada

   coma a lavada vexiga dun porco.

   A hormona da colleita. Rémora e osíxeno.

   Foi pertencer á perda

   contrario a perder pertenza.

    

   A idea de non ser chegou co posuído.

    

   O único mapa do tesouro

   era non necesitalo.