disagreement
translated from the Spanish by Andrés Fernández
(to my sister)
(the deafening
sound
of the sea
comes
between
us both)
I say to her:
I think
we're
drowned
she replies:
no
We're not
drowned
I say to her:
we're lying
side by side
at the bottom
of the sea
she replies:
no
We are standing
on the shore
I say to her:
I truly
believe
we've
already drowned
she replies:
no
We are
breathing
just fine
I say to her:
for me
no
air
comes
in
she replies:
I have air
for both of us
desacuerdo
(a mi hermana)
(el rugido
ensordecedor
del mar
se interpone
entre
las dos)
yo le digo:
creo
que estamos
ahogadas
ella responde:
no
No estamos
ahogadas
yo le digo:
yacemos
a la par
en el fondo
del mar
ella responde:
no
Estamos de pie
en la orilla
yo le digo:
de verdad
creo
que ya
nos ahogamos
ella responde:
no
Estamos
respirando
muy bien
yo le digo:
a mí
no
me
entra
aire
ella responde:
Yo tengo aire
para las dos
Copyright © 2025 by María Auxiliadora Álvarez. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on September 29, 2025, by the Academy of American Poets.