elephantasy (trans.)
…not after the centuries
had they learned to rummage others’ drawers
a paper swing made the elephants leap
a Blue elephant skipped through a new color
a line of birds gave their nest the lustrousness
of eviction
they had learned to spoor drawers
unlearning the jewelry of nearby despots
learning the Christian hymn backwards
–they had unlea[sh/rn]ed–
they had the feathers of their fins full of claws
full of earth and water
that before earth was earth and water was water
were under fire and fire, mire and mire…
Ruiz Rivera, Gaddiel Francisco. "elephantasy." Translated by Roque Raquel Salas Rivera, 2016, The Wanderer, www.wanderer-poetry.com/the-devolution-of-the-gene-by-gaddiel-francisco-ruiz-rivera/.
Rights: Gaddiel Francisco Ruiz Riveraelefantasía
…no despúes de los siglos
habían aprendido a rebuscar en gavetas ajenas
un columpio de papel hacía saltar elefantes
un elefante Azul daba saltos por un nuevo color
una fila de aves daba al nido el lustro
del desahucio
habían aprendido de husmear gavetas
desprendiendo prendas del déspota cercano
aprendiendo el himno al revés de los cristianos
-habían des(a)prendido-
tenían las plumas de las aletas llenas de garras
llenas de tierra y de agua
que antes de tierra ser tierra y de agua ser agua
fueron bajo fuego y fuego, fango y fango…
Ruiz Rivera, Gaddiel Francisco. "elephantasy." Translated by Roque Raquel Salas Rivera, 2016, The Wanderer, www.wanderer-poetry.com/the-devolution-of-the-gene-by-gaddiel-francisco-ruiz-rivera/.
Rights: Gaddiel Francisco Ruiz Rivera