Mizzle «Garúa» by Cristina Castello (Translated by Pierre L’Abbé)
by Steven McCabe
I immigrated to the Earth draped in silence
Written on a reflection, a path to the word
I brought my fertile voice, my thornless offering,
a calm mizzle in the depth of the eyes
I found a shelter of swamp and nettles
A Power that ignited the blood of children,
I saw men like wolves, I saw angel wolves
And a brackish deluge of moribund dreams
Each day, more beings broken and destroyed
Cut to size, torn up, broken, killed
While Goya, Beethoven and Balzac
Affirm that life is reinforced in each Being
An immigrant in the potent kernel of art
I curse the cemeteries and the ashes, and I remain
I remain until the foliage of men
Nurtures the roots and reinvents the world
Cristina Castello is an Argentinian poet and journalist now living in France. Her work is committed to peace and beauty against all social injustices. Her poems are always a commitment to the dignity of life, beauty and freedom. They have been translated into several languages. Her books include, Soif, (L’Harmattan 2004); Orage, (Bod 2009),Ombre (Trames 2010) and “Le chant des sirènes” / “El canto de las sirenas” (Chemins de plume, 2012).
Translated by Pierre L’Abbé from the Spanish original and from the French translation of Pedro Vianna
Pierre L’Abbe is a Toronto translator, publisher, ebook designer and author of both poetry and short story collections.
Love the flow between the images and the text for this one!
Thank you William. It felt like shapes coming closer together with movements like tide.
Je ne parle pas l’anglais, désolée. Oui le mariage entre les images et le texte, est véritablement bien réussi ! Merci
I’m not familiar with Castello but will be on the lookout for her now. I love her message, and I love how you have captured the essence of it with such reverence, gentleness, and subtlety. My favorite images are the two with the orbs of light that frame the lines “An immigrant in the potent world of art…I remain until……” Such beauty. Thank you.
Thank you Jeanie. Yes she is a very fine poet. Glad to be reminded of the text beside the image that most resonates for you. A many-sided shape this poem is! I approached it in a very understated manner which you picked up on. I appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Merci, mille mercis ! Écrire, c’est essayer de semer la l’étique, contenant l’esthétique. Mille et mille mercis
Once gain Steven…layer upon layer.
The first two lines in the poem
“I immigrated to the Earth draped in silence
Written on a reflection, a path to the word” …
My gosh! I could ponder just these two lines for eons while swimming through your images…
A map of the origins of birthing
The cross hatching of interfacing
Reflections in a window…
Whew! A workout!
Thank you j.h. Yes aren’t those two lines certainly worth pondering. Thank you for your impressions and for the swimming you are doing. Your swimming is most appreciated. Yes a ‘workout’ here too.
Merci, mon artiste, Steven, merci, mille mercis !
Toma las dos primeras líneas para tí; toma todo el poema para tí: tu vuelo dará más alas a las palabras; palabras tan bien traducidas por Pierre y con el arte sublime de Steven. Un saludo afectuoso
Tu poema…tan inspirador. Yo soy un defensor devoto de composta!
¡¡Muchas gracias!! Escribir es también tirar semillas al viento, que las recoge y reproduce. Un abrazo fuerte
Wonderful.
Thank you Richard.
Merci
Early Christmas presents!!! I peeked and I’m glad I did;) Words images leave me wanting more as most splendid things do. Happy Holidays everyone-H
Mille mercis, mille mercis ! Et toujours merci à Steven et à Pierre !! Des bonnes fêtes !!
Thank you Heather! How nice to see your Christmas greetings. And Happy New Year to you!