“Flor de mi alma” / “Flower of my soul”

Flor_un poema de  Amor

“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

Victor 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

Gerardo 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”

 

 

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