Colombia

Carolina Rodríguez Mayo

Marea

entrecierro los ojos
para disimular las lágrimas
respiro
a hondas bocanadas
aprieto las manos
envejecidas
por tanta sal

miro alrededor
un color azulado
me ciega
me asedia
camino con los brazos estirados
no quiero tropezar
no quiero tropezar
y caerme

aquél celeste inclemente
está en mis sueños
bajos los párpados cerrados
un color azul
-azul de mar adentro-
ahoga mi cabeza

ciega
en tonos de cristal
y cielo
nublada en índigo
nublada desde adentro
sollozo
que no puedo ver

uso las manos
como palas
las entierro en mi barriga
busco encontrar
ese espíritu inanimado
espíritu coloreado de añil

lo sostengo
arranco sus ojos
lo ciego en negro
para que no se eleve
para que deje de soñar
sombra
sin piedritas cobalto
sin luz

cegado en la oscuridad
aprenderás a caminar
sin mirar hacia arriba
con los pies cementados al suelo.

Tide

I squint my eyes
to conceal my tears
I breathe
deep gasps
I clinch my hands
aged
by so much salt

I look around
a bluish color
besieges me
I walk with stretched arms
I don’t want to stumble
I don’t want to stumble
and fall

that merciless sky blue
is in my dreams
I lower my eyes shut
a blue color
– the blue offshore –
drowns my head

blind
in shades of crystal
and sky
clouded in indigo
clouded from within
I sob
since I can’t see

I use my hands
as shovels
I bury them in my stomach
I hope to find
that inanimate spirit
spirit colored in woad

I hold it
rip out its eyes
I blind it in black
so it won’t rise
so it stops dreaming
shadow
with no cobalt pebbles
with no light

blinded in the dark
you will learn how to walk
without looking up
with your feet cemented to the ground.

Carolina Rodríguez Mayo was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1991. Traveler and writer, she has a Bachelor’s degree in Literature with a minor in Philosophy. She has published her work in online journals from Bogotá such as Sombralarga and Sinestesia. She was chosen as part of an anthology of young poets, Afloramientos, los puentes de regreso al pasado están rotos, by Fallidos Editores. She was awarded the first honorable mention in the 12^th edition of the prestigious Eduardo Carranza Poetry Award in Colombia.

Regarding her work, Carolina is emphatic about the openness of her creative process: “Writing is the only thing that comforts me. Everything I write is an invitation to dialogue.” When asked about this poem, “Marea,” she added: “When we want to obtain something, that desire can become overwhelming. This poem was written from the deep fear that dreams can cause.”

Prepared by Nicolas Barbosa Lopez