Linda Morales Caballero (Peru/USA) is a writer, journalist, and teacher. She is the author of El libro de los enigmas which stories have produced an awarded short film, a play, and monologues in New York and Madrid. She has seven poetry books to her credit. Her work has been published in multiple languages. Her book, El rumor de las cosas was awarded the International Latino Book Awards as one of the best poetry books of 2020.
English
Spanish
TO AN ANT
Her warrior's frame died
disarmed after biting me.
Maybe I'm stronger than her jaw
and the thunder of my skin
broke her bones.
Or maybe
the arduous sound that plagues me
executed my memories
on her key.
We are all little instruments,
small shells breaking
with no rhythm-altering consequences,
only causing damage
that spread like in a domino’s game.
NAIL
The pachydermal nail looks at me,
Stares at me with its eyes of remembrance.
Undeniably tragic, it testifies monstrous…
It refuses to be beautified.
It pleases it to mummify itself in its strangeness.
Its hidden nerve hurts,
It underlines catastrophe: life.
The validity of its cry
Mutely alters
My perception of the world.
A UNA HORMIGA
Murió su armazón de guerrera,
se desarmó después de morderme.
Quizás soy más fuerte que su
mandíbula y el tronar de mi piel
le partió los huesos.
O tal vez,
el sonido arduo que me aqueja
ejecutó mis recuerdos
en su tecla.
Todos somos pequeños instrumentos,
pequeñas cáscaras rompiéndose
sin consecuencias que alteren el ritmo
del todo, sólo causantes de daños
que se contagian en dominó.
Uña
La uña paquidérmica me mira
clavándome sus ojos de recuerdo.
Innegablemente trágica testifica monstruosa...
Rechaza ser embellecida,
le place momificarse en su extrañeza
Duele herido su nervio oculto,
subyace, a la catástrofe, a la vida.
La validez de su grito
mudamente altera
mi percepción de todo.
Translated by the poet