Alfred Kreymborg (EEUU, 1883 - 1966)

 

 

POESÍA

 

Ladislaw el crítico

mide un metro y setenta centímetros de estatura,

lo que significa

que sus ojos

están a un metro y sesenta centímetros

del suelo,

lo que significa

que si le lees tu poema

y alza la mirada por encima del metro

y sesenta centímetros,

lo que has hecho

es Poesía;

si sus ojos permanecen

a un metro y sesenta centímetros,

has perpetrado prosa,

y si ves que inclina la mirada

—¡Dios no lo quiera!—

aunque sea un poco por debajo

del metro y sesenta centímetros

eres

un adjetivo inclasificable.

 

 

 

__________________

en "Others for 1919: An Anthology of the New Verse", Alfred Kremborg, ed., Nicholas L. Brown, Nueva York, 1920, ed. digital de la University of British Columbia. Versión de Jonio González. 

 

 

POETRY

 

Ladislaw the critic

is five feet six inches high,

which means

that his eyes

are five feet two inches

from the ground,

which means,

if you read him your poem,

and his eyes lift to five feet

and a trifle more than two inches,

what you have done

is Poetry—

should his eyes remain

at five feet two inches,

you have perpetrated prose,

and do his eyes stoop

—which Heaven forbid!—

the least trifle below

five feet two inches,

you

are an unspeakable adjective.

 

 

 

(Fuente: Jonio González)