What follows is a poem using ekphrasis, written in Spanish. If you don’t read Spanish, there is a loose translation succeeding. Ekphrasis is a poetic technique where one writes poetic lines to describe or interpret a visual muse, usually art or photography. I chose the below image, then wrote the following poem. Please enjoy 🙂
Misterio y Transparencia
Un ciego ojo cuelga en media cortinas sin forma
Que amarran el cielo y la tierra
Mientras agachando como trabajadores agobiados
O amantes abrazados
Los mechones ralos de Madre
Falta a esconder el tesoro de medianoche
El zafiro floreciendo, la esmeralda escalando
Que trenzan en torno la amatista llorando
El pincel del maestro diestramente decora
Apagado pergamino con forma viva
Un aguado hachazo un tallo crea
Un blanco opaco una espectadora
En espacio vacío, el agua colgada
El asesino del perdido con gracia
Tranquilo, sombrío, móvil, inmóvil
Luminosidad, oscuridad, belleza, tristeza
Pergamino antiguo y pigmento debilitado
Inmortaliza el inigualable momento
Cuando misterio y transparencia
Adornaron la misma pagina
And for the English:
A blind eye hangs betwixt formless curtains
That bind together earth and sky
While crouching low like burdened workers
Or embracing lovers
The wispy strands of mother’s hair
Fail to hide the midnight treasure
Blooming sapphires and climbing emeralds
Which twine ‘round weeping amethysts
The master’s brush doth deftly adorn
The lifeless parchment with living form
One watery stroke a stem creates
Opaque white the watcher makes
In empty space the hanging water
Which kills the witless with its grace
Peaceful, somber, motion, stillness
Brightness, darkness, beauty, sadness
Ancient paper and fading pigment
Immortalize a matchless moment
When mystery and transparency
Together graced a single page
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