“Flor de mi alma” / “Flower of my soul”
Posted: September 27, 2014 Filed under: Alexander Best, English, Spanish | Tags: Love poems, Poemas de Amor Comments Off on “Flor de mi alma” / “Flower of my soul”“Flor de mi alma”
.
Flor de mi mente:
Creces en mí el alcance – la gama –
de las perspectivas de Pensamiento – de La Idea.
.
Flor de mi corazón:
Me ayudas recordar los Gozos – y la Pena –
de estar enamorado.
Y eso es algo bueno, porque tú me haces más humano.
.
Flor de mi alma:
Me tocas con tu sonrisa…
Y esa energía alcanza en ese lugar invisible de mí
– lo más profundo –
donde vive el auténtico Yo.
. . .
“Flower of my Soul”
.
Flower of my Intelligence:
You make bloom in me the scope – the spectrum –
of Thought, of Ideas.
.
Flower of my Heart:
You help me to recall the Joys – and the Pain – of being in Love.
And that’s something good, because it makes me more human.
.
Flower of my Soul:
You touch me with your smile…
And such energy reaches all the way to that invisible place
– the deepest place –
where lives the authentic Me.
Poemas de Amor del idioma zapoteco
Posted: February 14, 2012 Filed under: English, Poemas de Amor del idioma zapoteco, Spanish, Victor Terán, Zapotec | Tags: Love poems, Poemas de Amor Comments Off on Poemas de Amor del idioma zapotecoVictor Terán
(nace 1958, Juchitán, Oaxaca, México;
Idioma: Zapoteco Istmeño / Language:
Isthmus Zapotec)
Lu ti nagana
Lu ti neza
chupa ná’
nagu’xhugá
zuguaa’.
Tobi ri’
nadxii naa,
xtobi ca
nadxiee laa.
Nisaguié,
nisaguié,
gudiibixendxe
ladxiduá’.
Gubidxaguié’,
gubidxaguié’,
binduuba’ gu’xhu’
ndaani’ bizaluá’.
_____
Duda
Sobre un camino
Que se bifurca,
Confundido
Me hallo.
Ésta
Me ama,
Aquella la amo.
Lluvia,
Lluvia,
Lava con mucho esmero
El alma mía.
Sol en flor,
Sol en flor,
Barre el humo
De mis ojos.
_____
Indecision
Upon a road
which forks,
confused
I stand.
One woman
loves me,
another
I love.
Rain,
rain,
meticulously cleanse
my soul.
The blossoming sun,
the blossoming sun,
sweep the smoke
from my eyes.
_____ _____ _____
Biluxe
Biluxe
Ne ngasi nga laani.
Lu neza zadxaagalulu’
Ca ni bidxagalú cou’
Biá’ dxi
Gúcalu’ bandá’ xtibe;
Ti bi’cu’, ti bihui,
Ti binni.
Gasti’ zadxaa
Ne laaca ca bigose
Guxhuuna’ íquelu’
Gusiquichi ique badunguiiu
Bichaabe lii.
Ne laaca decheyoo
Bizucánelu’ laabe
Gusicabe guendarusiaanda’ xtibe.
Gasti’ zadxaa.
Lii siou’ nga zusácalu’
Guidxilayú ma qui gapa
Xiñee guireexieque,
Ma qui gapa xiñee
quiidxi guendanabani.
Ne zoyaalu’ guendanabani xtilu’,
Ladxido’lo zapapa
Bia’ qui guchendaxhiaasi layú,
Ne nalu’ ne ñeelu’
Zusiaandu’ laaca’,
Qui zánnalu paraa zuhuaalu’,
Ne nisi lulu’, nisi nalu’
Zaniibihuati guiá’ ne guete’.
_____
Se acabó
Se acabó
y eso es todo.
Sobre tus pasos encontrarás
las cosas mismas que hallaste
durante los días
que fuiste su sombre;
Un perro , un cerdo,
una persona.
Nada cambiará
y los mismos zanates
que te ensuciaron la cabeza
blanquearán la del joven
que tomó tu lugar.
Y detrás de la casa
donde se recostaban
ella asentará su olvido.
Nada cambiará,
sin embargo supondrás
que no tiene sentido ya
el movimiento de la tierra,
ya no existen motivos
para afferarse a la vida.
Y morderás tu hombría,
tu corazón vibrará
con las alas a punto de golpear la tierra,
y tus brazos y tus piernas
los pondrás en el olvido,
perdido en tu sitio
te verás moviendo tontamente
los ojos y los brazos de norte a sur.
_____
It’s Over
It’s over…
and that is all.
Along your pathway you will find
the same things you discovered
during the days when you were her shadow:
A dog, a pig,
A person.
Nothing will change…
And the same “zanates”(little crows)
that soiled your head
will whiten that of the young man
who took your place.
And behind the house
where you and she
used to lie,
she will lay down her memory.
Nothing will change…
However, you will think
that the earth’s movement
no longer makes any sense,
that there are no more reasons
to cling to life.
And you will swallow your manly pride;
your heart will pulsate,
its wings nearly striking the ground,
and your arms and legs
will be caste into oblivion…
Lost within your space,
you will find yourself
foolishly moving your eyes and arms
from north to south.
_____
Traducciones del zapoteco al español: el poeta
Translations from Zapotec into Spanish: the poet
Traducciones del español al inglés /
Translations from Spanish into English:
© Carlos Montemayor, Donald Frischmann, 2004
Poemas de Amor del idioma maya
Posted: February 14, 2012 Filed under: English, Gerardo Can Pat, Maya, Poemas de Amor del idioma maya, Spanish | Tags: Love poems, Poemas de Amor Comments Off on Poemas de Amor del idioma mayaGerardo Can Pat (1957-1994,
Tibolón, Yucatán, México;
Idioma: Maya / Language: Maya)
Teech yeten teen
Wey yóok’olkaabe’ teech yéeten teen,
ka’atulo’on tyo’lal yaakunal núupo’on,
in yaakumech teche’a k’áaten,
yaakumabaa ka’ach to’on ka’atulo’on.
*
Teche’ mina’anech tin wiknal nejla’e’,
le yaakunale’ p’áat chen túun bejla’e’,
ba’ale’ tene’ leyli’ tin pa’tike’,
le yaabilaj ma’ táan dzikteno’.
*
Ka’atulo’on t-wayak’taj ya’ankach ba’alo’ob,
ti’ junp’éel lu’umkabil k-ti’al ka’atulo’on,
mix jach chichani’ mix jach nojochi’,
tu p’iis u ti’al k-yaakuntikbaa ka’achij.
*
Jaytéenak táan k-máan in lochmaj a kaal,
jaytéenak ta wa’ajten a yaakumajen,
le o’olal chan junp’éel ba’al in wojel,
teche’ mixbiik’in ken a tu’ubsilen.
*
Tin dzajtech u dzook ba’ax yaan tene’,
in yaakunal yéeten mis juntuusil,
ba’ale’ teche’ we’ek’ech men sajkil,
le o’olal bejla’e’ bey ma’ k’ajobae’.
*
Wa ti’ junp’éel k’iin ku suut a tuukule’,
wek’ a sajkilil ki’imakunta wóod,
tumen in sa’as tech’ mina’an mixba’al,
juntulili’on tu ka’atéen k’p’áatal.
_____
Tú y yo
En el mundo tú y yo
fuimos hechos inseparables por el amor.
Igual que tú, yo te amo,
juntos el amor nos hizo.
*
Juntos muchas cosas soñamos:
un mundo sólo para nosotros,
no grande ni pequeño,
exacto para este amor.
*
¡Cuántas veces caminamos, abrazándonos,
y tú diciendo que me amabas!
Sólo una cosa sé:
no has de olvidarme.
*
Te entregué lo que tenía:
mi amor sin un solo engaño.
Hoy el miedo te ha derrotado
y por eso parecemos desconocidos.
*
Pero si algún día tuvieras firme otra vez
el pensamiento
y vencieras este miedo, escucha:
no tengo nada que perdonarte,
otra vez seremos los dos uno solo.
_____
You and I
In this world, you and I
were made inseparable by love.
Just as you love me, I love you.
Love made us as one.
*
Together, we dreamed of many things:
a world just for us…
not large or small,
but just right for this love.
*
How many times we walked,
our arms around each other
– and you saying you loved me!
I know just one thing:
you will not forget me.
*
I gave you all that I had:
my love, without deceit.
Today fear has overcome you
and we are like strangers.
*
But if some day you were to
recover your reason
and overcome this fear, remember:
I have nothing to forgive you for;
we will again be as one.
_____
Taan a bin
In wojel ta bin, mixbik’in suunakech,
ma’alob xen ta beel, min tuklil in k’áastikech,
in dzíibolale’, ka’a anchak máax yaakuntikech,
wa le ka tuklil, le te’e ku binitiktech.
*
Ma’tuklil tyo’lal, wa kin p’áatal tin juunal,
kex mixmáak yaanten, ka’a páatak u náayskinwóol,
ma’ táan u páajtal, in k’at-óoltik u laak’ ba’al,
xi iktech ma’alobil x-ch’úupal ki’imakchak a wóol.
*
Kex túun yajtin wóol, tyo’lal tun tan a p’atken
ma’ tin tuklaje’, wa bey ken a beetiten,
tyo’lal óotzilen, lebeetik ma’ yakuntken,
wa túun ta bine’, mix u suut a wich ti’ ten.
*
In k’áat-óolale’, xi’iktech yéeten ya’ab utzil,
tumen tin wicho’obe’ táan u yalkab u ja’il,
tyo’lal mixbik’in bin suunaken in wilech,
tu xu’upul in wiik’, tu bin xan in kuxtalil.
*
Teche’ táan a bin. Tene’kin p’áatal.
_____
Te vas
Yo sé que te vas y no regresarás.
Si, prosigue tu camino, que no te detendré.
Ojalá haya quien te quiera,
si acaso eso te falta.
*
No pienses que si quedo solo
no tendré a nadie que me consuele.
¿Que más pudo desear para ti?
Que estés bien, que seas dichosa.
*
Me lastima que te alejes,
pues nunca pensé que esto hicieras.
Si por mi pobreza te vas,
ni siquiera a mirarme vuelvas.
*
Pero deseo que te vaya bien.
Corren lágrimas ahora en estos ojos
que nunca te volverán a ver.
Se me acaba el aire junto con mi vida.
*
Te vas, yo me quedo.
_____
You Are Leaving
I know that you are leaving and will not return.
Yes, follow your path, I won’t stop you.
I hope there will be someone to love you,
if that is what you need.
*
Don’t think that if I am left alone
I won’t have anyone to console me.
What more can I wish you
– but that you be well, be happy?
*
It hurts me that you are going away,
since I never thought you would.
If you are leaving because I’m poor,
don’t even look back.
*
But I hope things go well for you.
Tears now run from these eyes
that will never see you again.
My breath and my life are running out…
*
You are leaving, I am staying.
_____
Traducciones del maya al español y inglés:
Translations from Maya into Spanish and English:
© Carlos Montemayor, Donald Frischmann, 2004
Straight from the Heart: Teenagers “tell it like it is”
Posted: February 14, 2012 Filed under: English | Tags: Love poems, Poemas de Amor Comments Off on Straight from the Heart: Teenagers “tell it like it is”
Tilt the halo over my head
I don’t care what the caution tape read
It’s time to get a little dangerous
Let’s fall in love.
Forget the scriptures, forget the past
Conscience and common sense never last
It’s time to get a little curious
Let’s fall in love.
Rachel, age 15
_____
“A Broken Snow Globe”
There’s never been an excuse for ignorance.
Just flags and fags and burning bridges,
just lots of ancient skulls. I sat in my room,
aching as deeply as the warrior
whose heart had been pierced by an enemy’s spear
in his father’s hand.
*
I liked thinking that every one of the tears,
on its saltwater sojourn down my face,
contained a little universe born of rage.
Wishful thinking; just protein.
*
I remember wondering at how strange it was that
my father who’s always assured me
that the world would turn its back on me
sooner than he,
would rather me be a murderer than
a lover of my own gender.
*
And it wouldn’t be so bad, if he didn’t claim to love me
“no matter what”. I cried for him, and I will
again. The worst thing is my father’s love is a burden; he’s
become a cold crutch to me, a necessary evil,
something to be waited out; but
my father isn’t a storm.
He’s the angry tide against my weakening sands,
the frustration that threatens riot over reason,
and I’m worried. I’m worried for him,
and that his last words may be a curse.
*
I pace, and think of the knives in his heart
from my first true kiss…
whenever it may be.
Mehron, age 15
_____
“Hello, Love”
Hello, my old “friend”,
Been a while since
You were here last.
I know why you’ve come,
And I’ll ask you to leave me.
I know you’re a delusion,
Conjured by a fickle one.
Who knows not what
She wants.
You light me up falsely,
Butterflies I haven’t felt
Since a November years ago.
Warping me,
Like I’m drunk, lying
In those leaves again,
Asking for you,
Assured I really want you.
“Well,” I’ll say to you now,
“You’ve whirled me around enough,
I’ll sit this one out,
too dizzy.”
Michael, age 17
_____
“Twelve”
Young boys who fall in love
They
Want to love you
‘til the sun burns out.
They live in the days
Of knights and princesses,
Gently taking your hand
And leading you
To the shining castle
That holds their young hearts,
Give you every key to every door,
And
they’ll gaze with intent
upon every precious
step you take,
and hold your head
against a warm chest
so you can mesh
with every beat.
Then they’ll
Run with you
Out to the lawn
Run their fingers
Through your hair
Brush your forehead
With soft lips
Beneath the starry sky
While whispering
Of sugar-coated tomorrows –
Orange-sherbet sunsets,
Purest white picket fences,
And crystal-clear oceans
With shells of undented texture.
But young boys who fall in love
One day
See that same sky
Differently
Now with
Broken innocence
Pushing everything they’ve ever felt
Into the shadows
Of lost souls long forgotten
And then
They change all the locks.
Crystal, age 14
_____
“The Perfect Guy”
He gives me flowers,
Rings and notes,
Jewellery, makeup,
Other things.
I return the favours;
Anything for him.
I smile with joy –
No girl could ever be so lucky –
Until reality slaps me in the face.
It’s fun to pretend,
But I must remember;
It’s for her, not me.
Valerie, age 16
_____
“Hungry”
I know what you meant when you said
Words sound differently out loud,
And I cover my face
Because
I’m afraid of what I say.
I can hear you’re hungry
When I lay my head on your belly.
So desperate to hear such a sound again,
I starve myself into oblivion
Tonight.
Sandra, age 17
_____
Compilation © Betsy Franco