Mercedes Roffé
translated from the Spanish by Judith Filc
O Nobilissima
(Hildegard of Bingen)
1.
Nave
Gold
Marble
Iron
blood and cobalt on the stained glass
Or earlier:
cedar and stone and shade
and echoes
and dampness
How not to believe
in the light that shelters
The robe of the Almighty
like a forest
Enter
penetrate get lost
Let yourself
be wrapped
by that forest
2.
There are voices like the serpent of desire
Modulations
like
a call to sin
and understand
There are voices like breasts
Let me
dwell in you
oh harbored temple
3.
You doubt?
You linger?
In what certainty
will you make your nest, dove
peace bird?
4.
What waters
vibrate
behind?
compass
pedal
thoroughbass crystal
5.
There are voices that open
the gates of Sleep
6.
what confession
what traveler
has led you to dream
sonorous wall of Bingen
such rhythm and such
instruments
and such
modulation
of sand and myrrh and cinnamon
what confession
what traveler
7.
Does that conjunction
of song and bells
speak perhaps
of a certain safe sky
a certain peace or faith in a certain
subsequent prosperity?
or might it rather be, perhaps,
the sweet requiem
that assures
that this tenuous meadow
is the only end
the only star?
8.
It’s Matins time
get up and ready
your thanking mouth
your eyes to
uncover
the light of dawn
and your ears to grasp
the vibrant sound of a
universe
that
despite
despite everything
rises and opens
like a book
a map a sweet-smelling
lotus
oh magnificent flower
_________
Mercedes Roffé is one of Argentina’s leading poets. Widely published in Latin America and Spain, some of her books have appeared in translation in Italy, Quebec, Romania, and England. Her poetry collection, La ópera fantasma (Barcelona/México, Vaso Roto, 2012) was chosen one of the best books of 2012 by two major Mexican newspapers. She is the editorial director of Ediciones Pen Press (www.edicionespenpress.com), a successful Spanish-language independent press dedicated to publishing contemporary poetry from around the world. Roffé was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (2001) and a Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship (2012). Her book Las linternas flotantes (2009) translated as Floating Lanterns by Anna Deeny is scheduled to be published in 2014 by Shearsman Books.
Judith Filc holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Pennsylvania. She has published books and essays on Argentine literature and culture, as well as three poetry collection in Spanish. She co-translated the bilingual poetry anthology Poéticas de Chile/Chilean Poets on The Art of Poetry (2007) as well as the book-length essay La poesía y sus máscaras (forthcoming in 2014). For her work as a literary translator see http://mythweavers.blogspot.com/
translated from the Spanish by Judith Filc
O Nobilissima
(Hildegard of Bingen)
1.
Nave
Gold
Marble
Iron
blood and cobalt on the stained glass
Or earlier:
cedar and stone and shade
and echoes
and dampness
How not to believe
in the light that shelters
The robe of the Almighty
like a forest
Enter
penetrate get lost
Let yourself
be wrapped
by that forest
2.
There are voices like the serpent of desire
Modulations
like
a call to sin
and understand
There are voices like breasts
Let me
dwell in you
oh harbored temple
3.
You doubt?
You linger?
In what certainty
will you make your nest, dove
peace bird?
4.
What waters
vibrate
behind?
compass
pedal
thoroughbass crystal
5.
There are voices that open
the gates of Sleep
6.
what confession
what traveler
has led you to dream
sonorous wall of Bingen
such rhythm and such
instruments
and such
modulation
of sand and myrrh and cinnamon
what confession
what traveler
7.
Does that conjunction
of song and bells
speak perhaps
of a certain safe sky
a certain peace or faith in a certain
subsequent prosperity?
or might it rather be, perhaps,
the sweet requiem
that assures
that this tenuous meadow
is the only end
the only star?
8.
It’s Matins time
get up and ready
your thanking mouth
your eyes to
uncover
the light of dawn
and your ears to grasp
the vibrant sound of a
universe
that
despite
despite everything
rises and opens
like a book
a map a sweet-smelling
lotus
oh magnificent flower
_________
Mercedes Roffé is one of Argentina’s leading poets. Widely published in Latin America and Spain, some of her books have appeared in translation in Italy, Quebec, Romania, and England. Her poetry collection, La ópera fantasma (Barcelona/México, Vaso Roto, 2012) was chosen one of the best books of 2012 by two major Mexican newspapers. She is the editorial director of Ediciones Pen Press (www.edicionespenpress.com), a successful Spanish-language independent press dedicated to publishing contemporary poetry from around the world. Roffé was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (2001) and a Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship (2012). Her book Las linternas flotantes (2009) translated as Floating Lanterns by Anna Deeny is scheduled to be published in 2014 by Shearsman Books.
Judith Filc holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Pennsylvania. She has published books and essays on Argentine literature and culture, as well as three poetry collection in Spanish. She co-translated the bilingual poetry anthology Poéticas de Chile/Chilean Poets on The Art of Poetry (2007) as well as the book-length essay La poesía y sus máscaras (forthcoming in 2014). For her work as a literary translator see http://mythweavers.blogspot.com/