Ésser en el món (1949) is the first published work by Manuel de Pedrolo. As the anniversary of the first 50 posts of our project, Open Time v 11.1, coincides with Catalan Poetry on the Internet Day we have decided to celebrate both by publishing a new translation of the first section of Ésser en el món everyday for a week, beginning Monday 17th March, 2014.
Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate!
DANTE: Inferno
Every poem an epitaph. And any action
is a step to the block, to the fire, down the sea’s throat
or to an illegible stone: and that is where we start.
T.S. ELIOT: Little Gidding
We know, like isolated, sullen roots,
they are the shadows that bind us,
they are the tears that poison us,
slowly, secret…
It is us and love,
the dense love of our dreams,
nothing more,
as one, wings unfolding, trusting
fully and silently,
at the moment of hesitation, it spreads and flies away,
irrefutable.
We awaken, carnivorous members,
Wild animals with bitter appetites
that cannabilise and infantilise:
moments as long as sapless centuries
exploding: the latest delirium!
All will be vain kisses, dear:
Lips will feel the crime of hours and depart;
And vain will be touch:
Flesh is a frigid liquid,
And love like that, it is so naked,
That the sun refuses – and shadow transgresses.
Manuel de Pedrolo. Barcelona y Tàrrega, 1948.
The early stages of this translation process can be viewed on the Chicano Conversations blog.
Thank you to Pedro for his help with the early stages of this translation (I have no knowledge of the Catalan language) and to Donna M. Alexander for her advice on the final stages.