Poets Against War continues the tradition of socially engaged poetry by creating venues for poetry as a voice against war, tyranny and oppression.

ELECTA ARENAL (transl.)

66 years old
NY

Jesus Aguado, b. 1961 in Madrid, has lived in Seville and then Malaga since early childhood, and spent extended periods in Benares, India. Prize-winning author of 11 books of poetry. Has translated the work of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, among others. Translators: Electa Arenal is a translator of poetry and prose, and a specialist on Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Beatrix Gates has published three books of poetry, including IN THE OPEN, a Lambda Literary Award finalist.

(Untitled)

from LIKE THE OAR THAT CUTS THE CURRENT:
POEMS OF VIKRAM BABU
by Jesus Aguado
translated by Electa Arenal & Beatrix Gates
[Spanish original: LOS POEMAS DE VIKRAM BABU. Madrid: Hiperion, 2001]



Like the one who kills then skins a child,

grinds its bones,

                          burns its tendons,

feeds the guts to a dog—



full of pride he calls a meeting

of parents, relatives and neighbors,

explains in unswerving detail

the minutiae of his cruel acts

and then requests that the community

puzzle the child back together again.



Vikram Babu asks:

     are you like that?

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