If one adds a detail to reality
one transforms the world. Méliès did it—
and ended up selling toys in a fair.
I’m not Basquiat (1960-1988) but I will raise my voice –
you all can tell me to go to hell,
I’ll tell you like he did: “This examination is over.”
I don’t have what it takes, according to Holderlin, for
the golden mediocrity of life. I think I think, with him,
that what lasts is made by poets – and so like Franz
I have a curious animal, half kitty,
half lamb – inheritance from the father. Franz
comes to be the poet, and I dig another tunnel of the Twenty.
I am an old corrupt mole; I go back to the ark—
while Voltaire tends his own garden. And I say:
I’d like to carry out an act liberating me as it unfolds – but
the thing internal to what is called an act, is the fact that one
does not know oneself, says Jacques Lacan my psychoanalyst to me.
The desire to live in more than one world doesn’t give me salvation—
I don’t know Blumenberg, I’m not lost in the forest
like a maiden. Or yes: I am lost, and alone, an animal
quartered before so many roads: they break it open, knock it over.
Then he tells me about Sunday’s reading
which says mean-ing is the re-nun-ci-a-tion of a mean-ing. I’m scared,
but tomorrow I’m off to Sibanicú, tomorrow.[1]
[1] Translation and original poem published in introduction to Breach of Trust / Abuso de confianza, by Ángel Escobar. Tr. and int. Kristin Dykstra. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2016.
[Si se le agrega un detalle a la realidad / se transforma al mundo. Méliès lo hizo— / y terminó vendiendo juguetes en una feria. / Yo no soy Basquiat (1960-1988), pero alzaré la voz— / ustedes podrían igual decirme que vaya al diablo, / yo les diré como él: “El examen ha terminado”. / No tengo lo que se requiere para, según Holderlin, / la dorada mediocridad de la vida. Creo creer, con él, / que lo que queda lo fundan los poetas –así tengo, / como Franz, un animal curioso, mitad gatito, / mitad cordero –es una herencia del padre. Franz / viene a ser el poeta, y yo cavo otro túnel del Veinte. / Yo soy un viejo topo corrupto; vuelvo al arca— / mientras Voltaire cultiva su jardín propio. Y digo: / Quisiera hacer un acto que me libere andando –pero / lo interno a lo que se llama acto, es que se desconoce / a sí mismo, me dice Jacques Lacan, mi sicoanalista. / No me salva el querer que vivamos en más de un mundo— / no conozco a Blumenberg, ni estoy perdido en el bosque / como una doncella. O sí: estoy perdido, y solo, res / destazada ante tantos caminos: la desjarretan, la tumban. / Luego me dice rintintín de la lectura de domingo / que el sentido es la renuncia a un sentido. Tengo miedo, / pero mañana me voy p’a Sibanicú, mañana. (“Resguardo del orden”)]
add detail to
transform the world. Méliès did—
selling toys in a fair.
Basquiat (1960-1988) will
tell me to go to hell,
I tell you: “This examination is over.”
what golden mediocrity
takes. I think I think
what is made by poets –
half kitty,
half lamb – father Franz
at another tunnel.
I am corrupt; I go back—
Voltaire tends his garden. say:
carry out an act, liberating as it unfolds –
the thing is the fact that one
does not know oneself.
desire to live salvation—
don’t know, I’m not lost in the forest
0r yes: lost, alone,
quartered: break it open, knock it over.
Sunday’s read
says mean-ing is re-nun-ci-a-tion. I’m scared
but tomorrow I’m off to Sibanicú, tomorrow.
Protection of the Order Xenotranslation 3: 61.3 words
to
the world. did
toys in a fair.
Basquiat
hell,
I is over.
gold
I think I think
poets –
half half l – father Franz
other tunnel.
I am
his garden. say:
an act folds –
the thing is fact.
live salvation—
know I’m not
yes: lost, alone,
open, over.
Sunday’s read
says re-nun-ci-a-tion. I’m scared
but tomorrow I’m off to Sibanicú, tomorrow.
to
the world. did
toys in a fair.
Basquiat
hell,
I is over.
gold
I think I think
poets –
half half l – father Franz
other tunnel.
I am
his garden. say:
an act folds –
the thing is fact.
live salvation—
know I’m not
yes: lost, alone,
open, over.
Sunday’s read
says re-nun-ci-a-tion. I’m scared
but tomorrow I’m off to Sibanicú, tomorrow.
to the toys
Basquiat,
I is over.
golden
I think poets –
half l father
tunnel.
I say: act, thing, fact.
salvation—
not yes: one, open
Sunday’s
re-nun-ci-a-tion
tomorrow Sibanicú, too.
Basquiat is over.
golden
poet father
say: salvation
no
yes: o
Sunday re-nun-ci-a-tion
tomorrow too.
Basquiat old father: no
yes: o
re-nun-ci-a-tion
no yes o
e-nun-ci-a-tion
no – yes
noes