Her Picture - Reesom Haile

I wrote to Photo Studio
In The Hague,

The Last Supper Cathedral of Cusco - Odi Gonzales

Blindly attributed
to the Chiaroscurists of San Blas
to the Anonymous One of Maras
to the Master of Taray 
                                    a little something
I have to say:
                        this painting
came from my own hands: I  alone
painted, prepared, set forth the Sacred Meal

                                                            Here
the cunning Indian painter – the Anonymous One of the Cathedral –
in a flight of ecstasy
added from his own stores
hearty stews and the fruits of his harvest:

            in place of
the traditional bread – flat and unleavened --
he set upon on the paschal table
roasted cuy, stuffed spicy peppers
as if the Upper Room were not in the Holy Land

                                                but more likely
in cozy tavern in Cusco, let’s say
                                    “La Chola.”

---

Odi Gonzales (born 1962) Peru
Translated by Lynn Levin
Source: Per Contra, Winter 2007-2008

• Maras - A small Andean town in what is now known as the Sacred Valley of Peru. Before the Spanish conquest, this region was the center of the Inca civilization.
• Taray - A village in the Sacred Valley of Peru.
• Cuy - Guinea pig, a staple of the Andean diet.
• Chola - An affectionate name for an indigenous Andean girl or woman.

 

Once Upon a Time I - Sukasah Syahdan

once upon a time I
saw a first flower undress
in slow motion naked colour

Grandfather Crocodile - Xanana Gusmão

The legend says
and who am I to disbelieve!

When I get to heaven - Patricia Jabbeh Wesley

When I get to heaven
I’m going to shout hallelujah all over the place.
Dancing the Dorklor, the Wahyee,
the Ballet, the Rock and Roll.

Blue Specks - Nurunnessa Choudhury

In the clear world
I blew a cage of glass
and hid myself inside.

Longing - Teodors Tomsons

Still are the trees, still the fields,
Still the distant forests;
Fair is my homeland, oh, so fair,
My land of dream-blue forests.

To my son - Luis M. Valdiviezo Arista

I want to teach you to walk
Between the stony life
And the liquid death
With a flaming smile

Ode to the sun - David Guramishvili

O radiant sun of light,
A soul-inspiring sight.
I Unrivalled king of kings,
Thy praise through ages rings.

To Swim with Eels - Emelihter S. Kihleng

part of me comes from rodents
a rat surrounded by kemisik¹
in Saladak, land of lasialap²
all my friends are kemisik
while I am only part kitik³