sea of the poem (an annex so we may dream backwards)
enjoy our américa’s big party . . .
at the bottom of the sea!
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXTBOOK ISLAS Y ESTRELLAS
wing
the wing of the sea is the wave;
the wave of the sky is the rain;
the salt of the rain falls as hail;
and the hail of hate rains in shots;
the shot of the soul is the bell;
bell without time is the ballad;
ballad that craves no beloved:
the love that names not its ballad.
a bridle-less horse is this life;
the life of the sea is the wave;
the wave of the bird is the wing;
and the wing of hatred is war;
the war of the wind is the storm;
storm of the soul, the beloved;
beloved of all, the poet;
poet of the sea, mariner;
sea of the poem, the future.
mar del poema
(anexo para soñar deatráspalante)
¡disfruten de la gran fiesta de nuestra américa . . .
en el fondo del mar!
TEXTO ESCOLAR ISLAS Y ESTRELLAS
ala
el ala del mar es la ola;
la ola del cielo, la lluvia;
la sal de la lluvia, granizo;
granizo del odio, balazo;
balazo del alma, campana;
campana sin tiempo, balada;
balada sin hambre de amada:
amor sin nombrar su balada;
caballo sin brida, la vida;
la vida del mar es la ola;
la ola del ave es el ala;
el ala del odio es la guerra;
la guerra del viento, tormenta;
tormenta del alma, la amada;
amado de todo, poeta;
poeta del mar, marinero;
mar del poema, el futuro.
From before island is volcano: poems by Raquel Salas Rivera (Beacon Press, 2022). Copyright © 2022 by Raquel Salas Rivera. Used with permission from Beacon Press, Boston, Massachusetts.