HIMNO A LOS TRES SANTOS
(HYMN TO THE THREE SAINTS)
I know a woman whose very name makes truth beautiful.
Let me tell you about the poet Chokwadi
who dances with words
and sings with her body.
Music moves in her voice
and the sound that it makes
takes you straight to the place
where you listen, and rejoice!
Mark G
Hark he
stands to speak,
commands the room.
Stories of war
or lyrics of love,
he'll stun without blows
and blow you away.
Mark his words,
for they'll mark you
and call you up to greater duty
than you thought you knew.
Muteado,
transmutando dolor a oro -
oiga, que grita tan suave
y habla tan claro.
El ritmo del comienzo del mundo
mueve en su voz
y su visaje es un paisaje
de dos paises. Sus raices,
hondas, amargas pero felices,
alcanzan a los fines
no solo de dos sino de tres paises:
la cultura de los Estados Unidos
la cultura de Méjico bien querido
y la alta cultura de la poesía.
Muteado,
transmuting pain to gold,
hear how he shouts so smooth
and speaks so clear!
The rhythm of the beginning of the world
moves in his voice.
His face is a landscape of two lands.
His deep and bittersweet roots
reach to the ends
not only of two, but of three countries:
the culture of the United States,
the culture of beloved Mexico,
and the high culture of poetry.
So though I am a Jew
acknowledging no Holy Trinity,
Credo in the power of these three saints
to transubstantiate the world and you
as they've converted me.
Make a joyful noise if you agree.
Jan Steckel
©Copyright 2004
