Edda Armas

Born 1955 in Caracas, where she lives.  Studied Social Psychology. Works for publishers and cultural organizations; especially interested in children's creativity.  At present president of PEN Venezuela. Poetry collections: Roto Todo Silencio, 1975; Contra el Aire, 1977; Rojo Circular, 1992; Sable, 1994; La otra orilla, 1999; En bicicleta, 2003. (Poetry prize of the XIV Bienal J.A Ramos Sucre, 2002) Armadura de piedra, 2005. In Cuerdas de Serpiente (Snake Strings), 1985; she has consciously played with words and phrases to construct objects in mental space ("absolutely deliberate, calculated work").

Spanish Text

from SNAKE STRINGS

MNÑ
          to Cassio

Watched                                  stunned                                    it grows
Vampire why do you speak?                            damp redoubt
I'll identify myself   I'm a snake
the lake persists in luring                                 body of water
                                                                                                fury
inside is the wounded feeling                          fire and magnolias
amphibians crossing
What mood?                                                                unreal pleasure bed
                                                                                                different mouths
Animal spine                                                               Drink me

Dilated                                    stunned                                    from a here and now
                                                                                                desires (desire)
Naked body of water                                                   lapping your absence
fury                                                                                          volatile body
Volatile Body
SPELL

It musses our skirts crumpled by that              look
                                                                                                            fixed
                                                                                                            unrelenting
from the underground carriage standing
and the next station expecting us

wounded distance                    automatic door                        and you too?
counting minutes to catch the train without running

Why did you walk with all that rain and shadows beside you?

Breath traps us in the early morning without sleep

I said cold water of the sea  of the shower  of this time
and your throat possessed a snake's gold         speechless

How many blocks did you walk holding the gardenias?

The fire in the woodwork has been spreading and the smell
                                                                                                            pricks the eyes

Ant get out of the way

The earth molds the color that gives your words
such a reflection on this meeting

Next station blocking our way

 

IT'S A CIRCLE

A dream may be                                              to wish to meet
any new day                                         intensely
like music                                            still listening to each other
and to love

having legs   hearing sound at night
watching the sky near the sea
near the truth   of feelings   one day
it's a circle   one day   people come back   one day
even places   one day   come back

 

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