Poetry

[Norma Rosa]

Could we have a forum on poetry?
Sorry, but I don't know who is the person I should contact about this.

[Mirador]

Campesina

Entre los surcos tu cuerpo moreno
es un racimo que a la tierra llega.
Torna los ojos, mírate los senos,
son dos semillas ácidas y ciegas.

Tu carne es tierra que será madura
cuando el otoño te tienda las manos,
y el surco que será tu sepultura
temblará, temblará, como un humano

al recibir tus carnes y tus huesos
-rosas de pulpa con rosas de cal:
rosas que en el primero de los besos
vibraron como un vaso de cristal-.

La palabra de qué concepto pleno
será tu cuerpo? No lo he de saber!
Torna los ojos, mírate los senos,
tal vez no alcanzarás a florecer.

Pablo Neruda (1904 - 1973)

[Ivanita]

I would loooove a forum on poetry. me encanta la poesia hispana.

[rolfdog]

Great idea Norma, and thanks for the poem Mirador. And what a great grammar exercise. I can understand and can realize the poetic nuance.
I feel I've come a long way in learning Spanish, and more should be posted since I'm not inclined to buy a spanish poetry book!

But like english poetry, at times, I'm stumped. "No lo he de saber" is a pretty advanced grammatical construction with "haber" and probably defies direct english translation. Its either "I am not to know (it)" or "it is not no know".

Am I close, Norma? Mirador? Lesley?

Steve

[Norma Rosa]

I would loooove a forum on poetry. me encanta la poesia hispana.

I am waiting for a reply from those in charge.

[Norma Rosa]

Great idea Norma, and thanks for the poem Mirador. And what a great grammar exercise. I can understand and can realize the poetic nuance.
I feel I've come a long way in learning Spanish, and more should be posted since I'm not inclined to buy a spanish poetry book!

But like english poetry, at times, I'm stumped. "No lo he de saber" is a pretty advanced grammatical construction with "haber" and probably defies direct english translation. Its either "I am not to know (it)" or "it is not no know".

Am I close, Norma? Mirador? Lesley?
Steve

Very, very close. (I am not to know it)

I would say:
I shall not know it. I shall know it not (more poetic).

The poet uses several metaphors because he knows this campesina so well. However, the condition her body will be in after death is something he doesn't want to know or think about.

More examples:
A Mario lo he de ver algún día. I shall see Mario someday. /I will see . . .
A Mario no lo he de ver jamás.

Other opinions?

[something_of_the_night]

Careful with poetry - some sound like Yoda-speak. This a joke is not.

[Ivanita]

PUENTES



Puentes —arcos de acero azul adonde vienen
a dar su despedida los que pasan,
—por arriba los trenes,
—por abajo las aguas,
enfermo de seguir un largo viaje
que precipia, que sigue y nunca acaba.
Cielos —arriba cielos,
y pájaros que pasan
sin detenerse, caminando como
los trenes y las aguas.

¿Qué maldición cayó sobre vosotros?
¿Qué esperáis en la noche densa y larga
con los brazos abiertos como un niño
que muere a la llegada de su hermana?

¿Qué voz de maldición pasiva y negra
sobre vosotros extendió sus alas,
para hacer que siguieran
el viaje que no acaba
los paisajes, la vida, el sol, la tierra,
los trenes y las aguas,
mientras la angustia inmóvil del acero
se hunde más en la tierra y más la clava?

-Pablo Neruda

I had to analyze this poem for my AP Spanish Lit test...and it left me pretty stumped...any thoughts?

[Norma Rosa]

PUENTES
I had to analyze this poem for my AP Spanish Lit test...and it left me pretty stumped...any thoughts?

Ivanita, I am interested on your thoughts about it.

[Chichiguita]

I am still in the very basics of my "spanish education" (read rosetta stone), so I am cut/pasting these to alta vista and then using my imagination. The comments everyone makes are helpful.