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Poetry

Bankruptcy

By Manuel Silva Acevedo
Translated from Spanish by Daniel Borzutzky
Don’t speak to me of liquidity, I’m consumptive,
debts and more debts accumulate
in columns of fear.
I couldn’t carry the crushing mortgage
I couldn’t shake the bankruptcy that weighs like a hump in my back.
I live in hiding from my creditors,
like magpies they pursue my bounced checks,
my credit cards are sneering harpies
and if that weren’t enough there is an order out for my arrest.
What a monstrous catastrophe!
From my autumnal checkbook hangs
a withered leaf.
Who will help me in my hour
of bankruptcy,
who will move the stone that keeps me flattened
at the bottom of this vault.

Translation of “Bancarrota.” From Cara de Hereje (Lom Ediciones, 2000). Copyright Manuel Silva Acevedo. Translation copyright 2008 by Daniel Borzutzky. All rights reserved.

English
Don’t speak to me of liquidity, I’m consumptive,
debts and more debts accumulate
in columns of fear.
I couldn’t carry the crushing mortgage
I couldn’t shake the bankruptcy that weighs like a hump in my back.
I live in hiding from my creditors,
like magpies they pursue my bounced checks,
my credit cards are sneering harpies
and if that weren’t enough there is an order out for my arrest.
What a monstrous catastrophe!
From my autumnal checkbook hangs
a withered leaf.
Who will help me in my hour
of bankruptcy,
who will move the stone that keeps me flattened
at the bottom of this vault.

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