THE LUST OF UNSENTIMENTAL WATERS by ROSA ALCALA

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Reading by Eric Abalajon


The Lust of Unsentimental Waters by Rosa Alcala

(Shearsman Books, 2012)




Read this twice. Reminds me of equal parts Ida Vitale and Rae Armantrout. Terse language, uncontrollably expansive. Several favorites.

 

WATERFRONT

1.

Dear cartographer,
lasso me some perspective—
I've been robbed 
of harbor,
and I got ships coming in.

2.

Where in the world 
does a map 
document the coordinates 
of us on our backs, 
in separate rooms, 
committing labor 
no one discusses,
slaving over a milk-warm heap 
of deflection
night after night.

3.

To the taxonomy 
of your evasion, darling 
I am indentured.

 

__________

Eric Abalajon is currently a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo. His translations have appeared in Asymptote, Modern Poetry in Translation, Four Way Review, Mercury Firs, and Exchanges: Journal of Literary Translation. His debut poetry collection is forthcoming from Flowersong Press. He lives near Iloilo City, Philippines.

 


 

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