I’ve wanted to write a poem in Spanish or a bilingual in Spanish + English for a long time. For years, I’ve been trying to do this. It should come naturally, I thought. After all, I speak to myself and my husband, and even the dog in Spanish on a daily basis while doing chores and running errands to keep from losing la lengua. (My favorite is when I suddenly start doing part of the lesson in Spanish and my ninth graders look at me like I just sprouted another head!)
Nancy’s NanPoWriMo prompt this morning was “Describe an invisible thing that you know exists in the world.” I thought of love. Sometimes I think I agree with that old Blackeyed Peas song – “Where is the Love?” As a child, I seemed to see and feel it all around. But now, there seems to be less and less of it to go around. Did the world change? Or have I?
I thought, “I know love still exists in the world.” My mind returned to the small family-owned taquerias of Houston Texas, where my mom and I sought refuge from her depression. I saw the love in the faces, shining at each other but also at me. There was no hesitation, no distrust, no emotional wall there because of our skin color. They shined out, giving all their light to me. I shined back, returning the same. This is the natural response when what you are giving and receiving is genuine. And from such a genuine place, what could come but a genuine poem?
If you’re trying to write a poem in another language and it feels like you can’t get it to come out just right – try this. Go to those places that are real – Real in the sense of emotional truth – in your mind. Jot down (or voice-record) some memories, images, sensory details from that truthful place. You will find the words will put themselves together and the miracle of something wonderful emerges before your eyes.
Thank you, Kelly. I do write bilingual poems (Spanish/English). It is difficult to be one’s own translator, but I try (which means the left-brain is invited into the creative process, usually a dangerous thing to do). The important thing for me is allegiance to the poem first, then to the language. I will deliberately use “poetic license” with the language to achieve the sonics I desire. I also learned I might have to make some structural changes because the line breaks don’t always translate. I have bilingual work coming out in Azahares Review (I think this April).
Wonderful tips, John. Thank you oh, and congratulations on your bilingual publication!
What personal revelations, Kelly! I loved reading them. And, then, the truth of capturing emotional truth.
Great!
Thank you so much Carolyn. I’m glad you enjoyed my “story behind the poem.” (Since I will probably try to publish that poem, I didn’t post the actual text of it here, but I’ll post after pub!)