Monday, January 19, 2015

TASTE By Pablo Neruda Translated by Nueva Vida Bookstore

TASTE
From  false astrology beliefs, somewhat in nature, gloomy and inconclusive customs borne in on us, and always close at hand,  I have cherished an impulse, a taste of my own loneliness.

From flimsy table-talks absorbed like used woods, with humble chairs, and a language, that, like slaves,  only serve secondary wills, like a milky consistency of deadly weeks, like smog on a city from stagnating air. Who can boast a more tangible patience?

Prudence and good judgment engulf me like being dressed with a compact skin with a color that gathers itself to itself like a
.
All my creatures are born in a massive rejection; one drink of alcohol - alas! - and I wave off the day that I chose for myself, like all of the days of my earthly world.

I live in the fullness of matter; this substance is mute as a matriarch, I bear my fixed patient like a church and its shadow, or the quietness of bones
.
I go full of those waters that are in deep disposition, prepared and expectant, asleep in a tearful vigil.

The inner guitar, the image of my soul, keeps the catch of a ballad, spare a sonorous, abiding, immobile, like a punctual nourishment, like smoke in the air : an element of force in repose, the volatile power in the oil : an incorruptible bird that keeps vigilant watch on my head: an unvarying routine of an angel inhabits my sword.

THE DREAM HORSE. author : Pablo Neruda. Translated by "Nueva Vida Bookstore."

I really enjoy the meaning of this poem coming from the internal world of Neruda. The movement of the corruptible world from its physical realm towards its metaphysical centre gives us a kind of perspective  to his poetics words about the "impure."
He said: "It is good, at certain hours of the day and night, to look closely at the world of objects when we are at rest.... the used surfaces of things, the wear that the hands give to the things, the air, tragic at times... all lend a curious attractiveness to the reality of the world ... in them one sees the confused impurity of the human condition, the massing of things, the use and disuse of substances, footprints and fingerprints, the abiding presence of the human engulfing all artifacts, inside and out."
THE DREAM HORSE
Watching myself in a mirror, not because I needed, it was just for the sake of looking closely at the world around me. I am able to see my mind with a garment of passion involved in papers and cinemas, days of weeks... , then I suddenly snatch from my heart the chief captain of my hell and I begin to establish clauses mistakenly sad.
I see my spirit drifting from one place to another, absorbing illusions, converse in the nests of spiritual tailors which their voices sometimes so cold and deadly. I saw them singing together and sorcery going from them.
I see myself in a country spread out inside the sky. It has the image of a credulous carpet of rainbows and crepuscular plants. I decided to move myself toward it, my sensation of fatigue started to surface over my mind when I see my feet trampling over a fresh removed soil full of graves. I see my dreams belonging to this ground of confuse legumes.
I see me walking over origins, then over enjoyed beneficiary documents. I see me dressed like a natural and chopfallen entity wanting the loose honey of respect, the sweets of the preacher under whose leaves drained violets drowse and grow old; and then, I see those bustling abettors, the brooms, in whose image, assuredly, sorrow and certainty are joined. I destroy the whistle of roses, the unavoided  anxiety, smashing the attractiveness of extremes -worst of all, I await a symmetrical time beyond measure in which the taste of my spirit disheartens me.
What a morning is here! What a milky-heavy glow in the air that its compact and digital image favor me! I have heard its red horse without the iron bridle, shimmering, whinnying there. Mounted, I see me soaring over churches, galloping the garrisons empty of soldiers while a dissolute army pursues me.
The eucalyptus image of the red horse's eyes raze the darkness and the bell image of its galloping body strikes home.
I see me needing but a spark of that persistent brightness, and my jubilant kindred claiming my inheritance.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Hansel and Gretel in modern time. By Angela Bernales

Deep in a deforested area stood a small and simple house in which lived a humble family. The father was a contractor in charge of the deforestation of the area, given the fact that wood was on high demand. He had two children named Hansel and Gretel that were in his teen ages and he was trying his best in raising them up.
The family tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but the demands of the controlled democracy system in which they were settled worked ceaselessly to smother them.  Soon the family were at a complete economic disadvantage, because the demands of the system, especially its irresponsible energy policies were eating up their lifestyle to which they had become accustomed. The money that was left after paying all the basic necessities was not enough to feed them all.
The situation became worst when the two children reach their late teens age. Unable to bond with their father who was caught in the land of the capitalism, they decided to go on their own. Resented over the way things turned to them they decided to live in the open, protecting every single and simple thing that nature offer them. Over a while they developed a new consciousness and little by little they separated themselves from the city people who became heartless, exploitative, greedy and abusive toward their neighbors.
After a while they returned to the simple house in which they remembered the humble life they had before it was ruin by  the controlling rules of the system in which their parents were caught. The parents did not recognized them. They thought they were rebels trying to take over the house and the business they settled around it, concerning the destruction of the natural way of living for the sake of the money.

Hansel and Gretel learned a lot during their time that they bond with Nature. They learned so many hidden languages through the vibration of every energy field that operates through it. They worked hard at perfecting their supernatural skills that they became so powerful in their minds that people around them fear to get in disagreement to them. Their teachings convinced these people about the harmony that exists in everything connected to it. If they choose the opposite they were turned into wild animals ceasing to enjoy the life as humans.

Their parents disagreed and immediately were transformed into two wild animals and headed towards the forest.
From that day they put to use their supernatural skills solely for defending the Nature. And the two of them, their friends, and most important, the trees of the forest lived happily ever after.



They talk to their parents about the way of Nature and asked them to change their way. But they had their minds set to the way of the money.

Monday, May 5, 2014

THE PREACHER

The preacher shows that ALL human courses are vain, because the creatures are restless in their courses.
They bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten. The preacher has found it so in the study of wisdom.
The words of the Preacher, ... Vanity of vanities, all IS vanity. What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?
ONE generation passes away, and ANOTHER generation comes : but the earth abides for ever.
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and move with hurry,  back to where he arose.
The wind goes toward the South, and turns about to the North; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea IS not full; unto the place from where the rivers come, towards that place they return again.
All things ARE full of labour; MAN cannot express mannerly or verbally unto IT: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
The thing that has been, it IS THAT which shall be; and that which is done IS that which shall be done:  and THERE IS no new THING under the sun. Is there ANY thing where of it may be said, See, this IS new? it has been already of old time, which was before us.
THERE IS no remembrance of former THINGS; neither shall there be ANY remembrance of THINGS that are to come with THOSE that shall come after.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem (spiritual centre of God's people). And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all THINGS that are done under heaven: this sore intense  mental and physical pain of laborious work like the pains of a woman giving birth to a child, that GOD has given to the SONS of MAN to be exercised there with (Adam's sin and punishment). I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all IS vanity and instituted by MAN without real grounds an meant to cause trouble or annoyance to the spirit. THAT WHICH is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered...... . For in much wisdom IS much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrows (in the colored world).

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Who was JOHN DONNE? 1572 - 1631 by Angela Bernales

Donne entered this world during a period of theological and political unrest for both England and France. The fight between Protestantism and Catholicism was at their peak. A Protestant massacre occurred on Saint Bartholomew's Day in France; while in England, the Catholics were the persecuted minority.
Born into a Roman Catholic family, his personal relationship with the ghost of religion was tumultuous and passionate, and it was the center of much of his poetry.
He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities in his early teen years but he did not take a degree at either school, because to do so would have forced him to subscribe himself to  the Thirty-nine Articles, the doctrine that defined the Anglicanism.
At age of twenty he studied law at Lincoln's Inn. Two years later he succumbed to the religious pressure and joined the Anglican Church after his younger brother, convicted for his Catholic loyalties, died in prison.  As a way of releasing his sorrow, he wrote most of his love lyrics and some sacred poem during this time.
In 1598, after returning from a two-year naval expedition against Spain, he was appointed private secretary to Sir Thomas Egerton. While working in Queen Elizabeth's last Parliament in 1601, he met the sixteen-year-old niece of Lady Egerton and secretly married her. Her uncle got mad because of this and disapproved the marriage, canceling the dowry for the couple. Due to this matter, Donn suffered social and financial instability in the beginning of the marriage life exacerbated by the birth of many children.
He continue to write and published the "Divine Poems" in 1607. Donn displayed his extensive knowledge of the laws of the Church and State, arguing that Roman Catholics could support James I without compromising their faith.
His wife aged Thirty-three died in 1617, shortly after giving birth to their twelfth child, a stillborn.
The "Holy Sonnets" are attributed to these phase of his life. He wrote his private prayers, "Devotion upon Emergent Occasions," during a period of severe illness and publish them in 1624.
His learned, charismatic, and inventive preaching made him a highly influential presence in London. Best Known for his vivacious, compelling style and thorough examination of mortal paradox, he was appointed Royal Chaplain in 1618.
In 1621, he became dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral. He died in London in 1631.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

COPLAS of MANRIQUE Part 2

Monarchs, the powerful and the strong, famous in history and in song, saw, by the decrees of FATE, their kingdoms lost and their sublime race so desolate. Who is the champion,? Who is the strong? On these shall fall the hand of DEATH as heavily as when it stays beside the shepherd's breath.
Like days of old, it now little avails to know  ...  Where is the noble heir of Aragon? Where are the courtly gallantries?   ... How false and full of guile that world of betrayal saw the smile mask wore so soft! She so friendly before, now from the fated reign her fake charms are tore far away.

But it was mortal; and the breath that flamed from the hot forge of DEATH blasted during its time.
The Judgment of God is so clear! His flame raging fearfully and fierce, people quenched it in tears.
Spain, the true and gallant Master , whom most loved of all, breathe not a whisper of his pride, he on the gloomy scaffold DIED, ignoble fall!  ... What was their prosperous estate when high exalted and elate his power and pride just a hot flame? But it only was a transient gleam of light which glared at its height but grew dim and died.

Earthly desires and sensual lust are passions springing from the dust, they fade and DIE; but in the LIFE beyond the tomb, they steal the immortal spirits and doom them eternally!

O World! so few the years we live, would that LIFE of yours on earth is LIFE INDEED! Alas! our sorrows fall so fast, and our happier hour is when at last our soul is freed.   ...
The ETERNAL LIFE, beyond the sky, WEALTH CANNOT PURCHASE, nor the high and proud, ... neither the spirit corrupt with sin,  theyshall not inherit a joy so great.       ...
O DEATH, no more, no more delay; my spirit long to be at rest; the WILL of HEAVEN MY WILL SHALL BE, I bow to the divine decree, to GOD's SOVEREIGN WILL that we all shall die.   ...
As thus the dying warrior pray, without any mist or shade upon his mind; encircled by his family, watched by affection's gentle eye, so soft and kind, his SOUL DEPART from his earthly body and GOD lead it to its final repose, its final nest.       ...

COPLAS of MANRIQUE Part 1

Jorge Manrique (1440-1479) was a Spanish poet whose main work was the Lyrics on the Death of his Father. It is  the most famous poem in the Spanish language. Here we present a summary of this great work.
O let the SOUL, her slumbers break, let THOUGHT be quickened and awake; awake to see how soon this LIFE is PAST and GONE, and how silently DEATH comes STEALING ON!
Swiftly our PLEASURES glide away, our hearts recall the DISTANT day with many sighs; the MOMENTS that are speeding fast we heed not, but the past, - the past, more highly prize.

Onward its course the present keeps, onward the contrast current sweeps, till LIFE IS DONE;  and, did we judge of time aright, PAST and FUTURE in their flight would be as one.
Let no one fondly DREAM again, that HOPE and all her shadowy train WILL NOT DECAY; fleeting as were the dreams of old, remembered like a tale that is told, they pass away.

Our lives are rivers, gliding free to that unfathomed, boundless sea, the SILENT GRAVE!
Thither roll all earthly pomp and boast, to be swallowed up and lost in one DARK WAVE.
Thither the mighty torrents stray, thither the brook pursues its way, and tinkling rill, they all are equal; side by side the poor man and the son of pride lie calm and still.     ...

To One alone my thoughts arise to the eternal TRUTH, the Good and Wise, to Him I cry, Who shared on earth our common lot, but the world comprehend not His Deity.

This world is but the rugged road which lead us to the bright abode of PEACE above; so let us choose the narrow way, which leads no traveler's foot astray from realms of LOVE, our craddle is the starting place, LIFE is the running of the race, we reach the goal when, in the mansions of the blest,  DEATH leaves to its eternal rest the weary soul. But we did use LIFE as we ought, the world would master each wandering thought to its high state. FAITH wings the soul beyond the sky, up to that better world on high, for which we wait.

Yes, the messenger of LOVE, our Saviour came, to guide us to our home above; born mortal, He suffered a death of shame in this valley of tears.

Behold the delusive worth of bubbles of this world that we pursue, the shapes we chase full of deceitful ways; the bubbles vanish when DEATH shuts the eye and leave no trace.
Time steals them from us, chances strange them, disastrous accident probably come, and, all of these is subject to all, even in the most exalted state, the stroke of FAITH is relentless swept that make the strongest fall.   ...   The cunning skill, the art of the curious, the glorious strength that youth imparts in life's first stage, shall become a heavy weight when TIME swings wide its outward gate to weary age.
... Wealth and the high state of pride, with what untimely speed they glide, how soon they depart. But the inconstant goddess knows no rest, but a world of changing without repose that she continues on and on.
... Earthly desires and sensual lust are passions springing from the dust, they fade and DIED; but, in the LIFE beyond the tomb, they are the ones who seal the spirit immortal's doom eternally! Pleasures and delights are masked treacherous smiles that jeopardize LIFE's serious task, they are all but the fleet coursers of the chase that DEATH ambush in the race just to caught us wondering wherein we fall?