Marcia Mogro in Santiago, Chile, reading from her book Restos de un cielo for the radio program "Better to Speak of Certain Things" (Mejor Hablar de Ciertas Cosas).

 
Lunar
 
1. – Semiramis(MG): Lying on our backs holding hands,
                                        together as in our dream we watch
                                        the clouds pass
                                        sailing — you say to me — like boats
                                        since the sea is endless
                                        as in our dream, my love.
 
2. – Semiramis(MG): The distance makes the moon seem larger,
                                        as in our dream
                                                                    my love,
                                        my love knowing our bones
                                        our bodies as in a dream
                                        they have kissed in dark alleys.
 
3. – Semiramis(MG): I kissed your ear
                                                                     my love
                                        seeing the words enter
                                        as in our dream
                                        before the land was like the moon
                                        and the sun is like the earth
                                        and all the moons written in the sky
                                        and others that we don't know.
 
 
FOR MANY LIVES I WILL REMEMBER YOUR EYES
 
Lunario
 
1. – Semíramis(MG): Echados boca arriba y manos juntas,
                                        juntas como en un sueño nuestro y miramos
                                        pasar las nubes
                                        navegando, — me dices —, como barcos
                                        así es el mar de interminable
                                        como un sueño nuestro amor mío.
 
2. – Semíramis(MG): La distancia hace ver la luna más grande,
                                        como en un sueño nuestro
                                                                                       amor mío,
                                        amor mío sabiendo nuestros huesos
                                        nuestros cuerpos como en un sueño
                                        habíanse besado en los callejones oscuros.
 
3. – Semíramis(MG): Había besado tu oreja
                                                                              amor mío
                                        viendo entrar las palabras
                                        como en un sueño nuestro
                                        la tierra era antes como la luna
                                        y el sol como la tierra esta
                                        y todas las lunas escritas en el cielo
                                        y otras que no sabemos.
 
 
POR MUCHAS VIDAS RECORDARE TUS OJOS
 
Translated from the Spanish by Carol Peters (left). Image courtesy of Carol Peters.
 
Photograph: Charles Vollum