Curiosidad
Ella pregunta Dime mi amor
¿siempre vamos a ser pobres?
él responde No
toma un trago de su vino barato y dice
un día vamos a morirnos.
Curiosity
She asks tell me my love
are we always going to be poor?
he replies No
take a sip of his cheap wine and say
one day we are going to die.
© Adrián, Lima 1986.
English translation by Nina Serrano.
“Curiosidad”, from the book “Dreams and Paranoias”. Winner of the IV APJ Poetry Biennial, Lima, Peru 1996. Peisa Editions, Alma Matinal, Contemporary Poetry series. © image by Adrián 2013
In addition, Alejandra Carpio Valdeavellano adapted it into a short film of the same name, which won the national short film competition in Peru: Link: https://www.cineaparte.com/p/116/curiosidad
Curiosity and other poems in Spanish by Adrián can be read in the anthology of 20,000 poets: https://poetassigloveintiuno.blogspot.com/2011/08/4391-adrian-arias.html
(Domingo)
Oigo un ruido como de pájaros cansados
sobre tu pelo,
oigo una mancha de luz
quejándose del brillo de tus ojos tristes,
oigo el llanto de tus hombros
cuando el viento se detiene a acariciar
los árboles que arden
en la calle que tomas de regreso,
oigo la curva perfecta de tu vientre
susurrándole al s i l e n c i o
y desviando la lluvia del paisaje,
oigo tus pasos
el cielo se trepa a mi garganta
anunciando que estás cerca
entonces
me trago lo escrito
te oigo a ti.
(Sunday)
I hear a noise like tired birds
about your hair
I hear a light spot
complaining about the glitter of your sad eyes,
I hear the crying of your shoulders
when the wind stops to caress
the trees that burn
in the street that you take back,
I hear the perfect curve of your belly
whispering to the s i l e n c e
and deviating the rain from the landscape,
I hear your steps
the sky climbs up my throat
announcing that you are near
so
I swallow the writing
I hear you.
English translation by Nina Serrano.
From the book “Hábitos”. 1st mention in the Julio Cortazar International Literary Contest, Bs As, Argentina 1984. Los Reyes Rojos Editions, Barranco, Peru, 1984. © Adrián
VITIS VINIFERA (Climbing Grapevine)
Wood in the skin
after embrace
Vine of light
whisper in the afternoon
body that leaves its house
in the agony of air
imprisoned without feet but desired
unable to go back to the root
turning into memory
into aroma into river into madness into moon
that helps the lovers to savor the next kiss
and the lonely to sing without fear
this poem.
VITIS VINIFERA
Madera en la piel
después abrazo
enredadera de luz
murmullo en la tarde
cuerpo que deja su casa
en la agonía del aire
encarcelado y sin pies pero deseado
sin poder volver a la raíz
se convierte en memoria
en aroma en río en locura en luna
que ayuda a los amantes a saborear el siguiente beso
y a los solitarios a cantar sin miedo
este poema.
English translation by Nina Serrano.
Best poem award, in the Struga poetic Nights, Macedonia 2009. © Adrián.
More poems by Adrián in Spanish
The anthology of 20,000 poets: https://poetassigloveintiuno.blogspot.com/2011/08/4391-adrian-arias.html