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COLUMN FORTY-EIGHT, AUGUST 1, 1999
(Copyright (c) 1999 Al Aronowitz)

(PHOTO BY JORGE ALVAREZ)

[From Colombia's celebrated poet, Raúl Henao of Medellin, here's another poem in Spanish, accompanied by its English translation, both from Raúl's La vida a la carta or Life a la carte.]

PERDER LA CABEZA

Mientras miraba fijamente las vueltas que daba
un pollo en el asador

Adverti que a pesar de poner todo empeño de mi
parte no podía cerrar la boca

Afortunadamente había pasado desapercibido para
las personas que a esa hora acostumbran pasearse
a lo largo de la calle

Cuando tocado por la curlosidad alguien se detuvo
a mi lado y echó una ojeada

Luego con el aire del domador de circo que mete
su cabeza en la boca de un león

lntrodujo la suya en mi boca y volvió a sacala
al parecer sin ningún desperfecto

Sólo en la expresión avergonzada de su rostro se
adivinaba que acababa de perder la cabeza.  ##

* * *

TO LOSE ONE'S HEAD

While staring at the chicken
going round in the roaster

I became aware that in spite of my every effort
I could not close my mouth

Fortunately this had gone unheeded
by the people who at that hour were accustomed
to stroll along the street

When someone, their curiosity aroused, stopped
at my side and had a look

Then with the air of a circus trainer who puts
his head in the lion's mouth

He introduced his into my mouth and then
extracted it without seeming to suffer any damage

Only in the embarrassed expression on his face
Could you guess that he had just lost his head

(Translated by Philip West)  ##

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