Lyrical Somerville – July 29

On July 29, 2015, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

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This week we have poems in Spanish by Sergio Inestrosa, a professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Endicott College, with English translations by Max Sklar. Max Sklar is an actor and a translator based in Salem, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of McGill University, and works as the Foreign Language tour coordinator for Cambridge Historical Tours.

Sergio Inestrosa

Sergio Inestrosa


Cuando la tierra…

pierda todos sus colores
cuando sea tan solo una roca seca
desprovista de vida
girando oscura
ya sin razón alguna
entonces será demasiado tarde
para corregir el rumbo destructivo
de nuestra humana estupidez.

— Sergio Inestrosa

 

 

When the earth…

is drained of all of its colors
when it is nothing more than a barren rock
deprived of life
turning in the dark
without a shred of meaning
then it will be too late
to halt the destructive course
of our own human stupidity.

— Sergio Inestrosa
— Translated by Max Sklar

 


 Dime…

tú que están tan lejos 
dime si es posible para ti recorrer 
el orbe entero 
atravesar las más adversas cordilleras 
el agua dulce de los tropicales ríos 
navegar las agitadas olas del Pacífico 
arriesgarte en cada una de las estúpidas fronteras 
y no contaminarte del fuego violento 
de nuestras tierras y volcanes 
Dime si es posible para ti 
desafiar el tiempo, la distancia insalvable 
para volver a encontrarnos 
en el remanso tierno de una cama 
donde podamos adormecernos 
en los coloridos atardeceres del desierto 
esperando la llegada deliciosa de la muerte 
Dime para preparar la espera 
para aguardar ansioso 
la cálida luz de la mañana de una incierta primavera. 
 
— Sergio Inestrosa 

Max Sklar

Max Sklar


Tell me…

you who are so far away 
tell me if you could ever voyage around 
the whole world 
cross the highest peaks 
the fresh waters of tropical rivers, 
navigate the choppy waves of the Pacific 
risk crossing every single one of the meaningless borders 
and never be burned by the violent fires 
of our earth and volcanoes 
Tell me if you could ever 
challenge time itself, the inconceivable distance 
to return to meet together again 
in the tender refuge of a bed. 
Where we may fall asleep 
in the shimmering afternoons of the desert 
waiting for the the savory arrival of death 
Tell me, so I can prepare to hope 
to anxiously wait for the 
warming morning light of an uncertain spring. 

— Sergio Inestrosa 
— Translated by Max Sklar 

 

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