A Brief Note from the Editor:
“Buscando el Sol,” is a Spanish poem by Nayelhi Ramirez. As an English-only speaker, I shared a moment of intimacy with Nayelhi. She recited her moving piece by phone, and then kindly translated it for me. We would like to invite you, our readers, to do the same. “Buscando el Sol,” a haunting eulogy, is provided in its original form. In addition, a sister poem, “Looking for the Sun,” is in English. You may enjoy both pieces as read either from left to right, or, from top to bottom. The presence of the sister poem signifies the beauty that may come from collaboration within our community, regardless of language, distance, or circumstance—the purist form of the Antiochian way.
Enjoy!—Amber Lea Greene, Editor-in-Chief, Spring 2021
“Buscando el Sol”
by
Nayelhi Rameriz
Hoy deslumbraron el sol, Ayer deslumbraron el sol, Antier deslumbraron el sol,
Y yo lo viví- Aunque sobreviví- Y lo superare-
Ni siquiera lloro. Ni siquiera me busco. Porque me he encontrado en ti.
Hoy deslumbraron el sol, Ayer deslumbraron el sol, Antier deslumbraron el sol,
Y sus manos- Recordé tus man Confío en mis propias manos-
¡Me quemaron! ¡Destrozado por la luna! ¡ Levántate! te escucho
Con su amor. Me dio temor. Encuentra tu valor.
Hoy deslumbraron el sol, Ayer deslumbraron el sol, Antier deslumbraron el sol
Su sombra cayó a la tierra- Sigo buscando a su sombra- Nuestras sombras se mezclan-
Y la luz se apagó A través de la oscuridad. No dejaré de seguir tu luz.
Hoy deslumbraron el sol, Ayer deslumbraron el sol, Antier deslumbraron el sol
Vientre del cielo- Vientre de la tierra- Vientre de mi-
Oscuro sin ti. Vacío sin ti. Completado por ti.
Hoy deslumbraron el sol, Ayer deslumbraron el sol, Antier deslumbraron el sol,
Pero no me deslumbraron a mi-Pero pensé en ti, y me dio fe -Pero no me deslumbraron a mi-
Y seguiré. Te encontraré. La luz amanece con nosotros.
Porque tu eres el sol, y el sol vive en mi.
Photo by Todd Rhines on Unsplash
"Looking for the Sun"
by
Amber Lea Greene
Today the sun died Yesterday the sun died Two days ago the sun died
Brief eternal moments- dazzling Even though I survived Will I get over it?
And I lived - I don’t even cry I don’t even look for myself Because I found myself in you
Today the sun died Yesterday the sun died Two days ago the sun died
And her hands - Remembering her hands But I trust my own
They burned me! Shattered by the moon! Get up! I hear you…
Raging in the absence of her love Fear- I run cold now Show me my value
Today the sun died Yesterday the sun died Two days ago the sun died
Her soul kisses the ground - I can’t feel her anymore - Search intertwined in shadows
And light falls, inward- with her Through the abyss- darkness I will never stop looking
Today the sun died Yesterday the sun died Two days ago the sun died
Returned to the sky’s womb Lost to the womb of Earth My belly aches - hollow
Dark without you Empty without you You made me all that I am
Today the sun died Yesterday the sun died Two days ago the sun died
And I am not blinded - I thought of you and gained faith - And I am alive
So I will continue I’ll find you Your light- a fire within me
Because you are the sun and the sun lives in me
Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash
Featured Photo by Manny Moreno on Unsplash
