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Poetry

Mist: In the Capital City

By Reina María Rodriguez
Translated from Spanish by Kristin Dykstra
Cuban poet Reina María Rodriquez considers the natural world and faith.

Betrayal of the thread that appears
and disappears
when the disciple is prepared to set out.
Today that’s the mist we see burning
over the city.
Mist of lime, powdery,
(on its particular day) it will lead you to discover
faith.
A sufficient quantity of leaves to dry in the seawater
of the purple bay.
How long did I contemplate the line dividing
the branch from the water.
So many that I fell, fell again
into vicious circles
speaking lies.
“To err, to err,” the circles always said
and the thread pulled apart.
I realized:  this is called wastage.
The dark branch dipped finally into the water
colliding with today’s mist (putting on its gold)  
so I would understand the necessary amount of faith
which this day will exceed, and that one
with its gentle undulating motion.
Because it’s the sky who opens the door
and its color brings us rest from ire,
from anxiety.
Afterwards it separates the mysteries, the customs
—the wretched creaking behind mist that goes away
when it appears (another thicker screen),
the soul?

© Reina María Rodriquez. By arrangement with the author. Translation © 2006 by Kristin Dykstra. All rights reserved.

English Spanish (Original)

Betrayal of the thread that appears
and disappears
when the disciple is prepared to set out.
Today that’s the mist we see burning
over the city.
Mist of lime, powdery,
(on its particular day) it will lead you to discover
faith.
A sufficient quantity of leaves to dry in the seawater
of the purple bay.
How long did I contemplate the line dividing
the branch from the water.
So many that I fell, fell again
into vicious circles
speaking lies.
“To err, to err,” the circles always said
and the thread pulled apart.
I realized:  this is called wastage.
The dark branch dipped finally into the water
colliding with today’s mist (putting on its gold)  
so I would understand the necessary amount of faith
which this day will exceed, and that one
with its gentle undulating motion.
Because it’s the sky who opens the door
and its color brings us rest from ire,
from anxiety.
Afterwards it separates the mysteries, the customs
—the wretched creaking behind mist that goes away
when it appears (another thicker screen),
the soul?

© Reina María Rodriquez. By arrangement with the author. Translation © 2006 by Kristin Dykstra. All rights reserved.

Neblina en la capital

Traición del hilo que aparece
y desaparece
cuando el discípulo está preparado para partir.
Es esa neblina de hoy que vemos arder
sobre la ciudad.
Neblina de cal, polvorosa,
que te hará encontrar (en su propio día)
la fe.
Una cantidad de hojas suficientes para secar al mar
de la bahía morada.    
Cuánto tiempo contemplé la raya divisoria
entre la rama y el agua.
Tantas como caí, caí
en los círculos viciosos
de mentir.
“Errar, errar” —decían siempre los círculos
y el hilo se partía.
Esto se llama merma, comprendí.
La rama prieta entró por fin al agua
y tropezó con la neblina de hoy (dorándose)
para que comprendiera la cantidad de fe necesaria
que rebasará este día, y aquel
con su suave movimiento ondulado.
Porque es el cielo quien abre la puerta
y su color nos descansa la ira,
la ansiedad.
Después, aparta los misterios, los hábitos
–ese crujir miserable detrás de una neblina que se va
cuando aparece (otra cortina más espesa)
¿el alma?

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