In honor of Chilean Independence Day, we present this work of independence by one of Chile’s great poets.
Guillermo Blest Gana Chilean 1829 – 1904
I observed when you snatched viciously me away my loved ones, and then I judged you: relentless like misfortune, inexorable like pain and cruel like the doubt…
But today that you, cold, mute, approach me without hate and without love, neither sullen nor affable, my spirit greets your majesty of the unfathomable and your eternity.
I, without the impatience of the suicide, neither the dread of the happy, nor the inert fear of the criminal, I await your coming;
that equal to everyone’s luck is my fortune: if nothing is expected of life, something must be expected from death.
We present this work in honor of the poet’s 90th birthday.
Delia Domínguez Chilean b. 1931
Tomorrow, a God I don’t know will offer me salvation if I don’t blindfold my soul as your shadow passes by.
Tomorrow, a mist will rise from the cornfields and we’ll know another season is upon us because our clothing will stick to our ribs, and you’ll depart forever like those visitors from the city who don’t know the sense of belonging or the scent of rotting leaves —or even less— the desolation of the hillsides after an infernal rain.
Tomorrow I’ll be silent, turned toward my solitary pillow like a schoolgirl punished in the farthest corner of the world, while the nettles at the back of the garden will open their milky buttons in the midst of this silence when it’s all much too late.
We present this work in honor of the 70th anniversary of the poet’s death.
Winétt de Rokha Chilean 1892 – 1951
A cave, with stalactites and stalagmites, all white, like the index finger of the morning. A tapestry, blood-spattered, repetitive, my slipper but one seed in the watermelon.
Every eye doubles itself in the little mirrors of my toe-nails; my arms fall, lift themselves, and fall again through autumn.
The word becomes a butterfly of the night, bats its wings, stops, opens itself to unforeseen pearls — catches at an echo that rolls slowly away, dividing and dividing again, and chases after its own flight like the mane of a comet as it dissolves.
I woke up at midnight the whole house set sail. In the early morning, there was rain with rain. The house was in silence, the mountains restrained, that night, one could hear but the falling rain. I saw me that night searching vents in vain; at home, and the world, no brothers, mum, friends. The space was dark, cold, and cold the ship stayed with me. Who moved all lonely candle flames? No one told me, go, No one told me, stay, inside, within me, Home, I left away. She saw who I was, she seemed far someday. I couldn’t lean back on the pillow’s surface. That midnight I searched while the house sailed straight. Above the world hearing but the fall of rain.
Never, never again?
Not on nights filled with quivering stars,
or during dawn’s maiden brightness
or afternoons of sacrifice?
Or at the edge of a pale path
that encircles the farmlands,
or upon the rim of a trembling fountain,
whitened by a shimmering moon?
Or beneath the forest’s
luxuriant, raveled tresses
where, calling his name,
I was overtaken by the night?
Not in the grotto that returns
the echo of my cry?
Oh no. To see him again —
it would not matter where —
in heaven’s deadwater
or inside the boiling vortex,
under serene moons or in bloodless fright!
To be with him…
every springtime and winter,
united in one anguished knot
around his bloody neck!
We present this work in honor of Chilean Independence Day.
Rosabetty Muñoz Chilean b. 1960
The aridity of the gardens
finally tired them all.
Nothing, not even carrots
would grow in that rocky soil.
Breaking your back for
a fistful of herbs.
And the flowers? You’ll say.
And those huge dahlias, like trees?
Don’t remind me of those carnivores.
They seemed to shine their petals
to the smell of misfortune.
They grew
opened
moved their stamens
as we steadily fell.
We present this work in honor of the 110th anniversary of the poet’s death.
Eusebio Lillo Chilean 1826 – 1910
I
The bloody fight has ceased;
and yesterday’s invader is now our brother;
three centuries we washed the affront
fighting in the field of honor.
That who yesterday was a slave
is free and triumphant today;
freedom is the heritage of the brave,
Victory lies shameful to his feet.
II
Rise, Chile, with a spotless forehead;
you conquered your name on the fight;
always noble, constant and courageous
the children of the Cid found you.
May your free calmly crown
the arts, industry and peace,
and may they sing songs of your triumph
to intimidate the daring despot.
III
Your names, brave soldiers
who have been Chile’s mainstay,
they are engraved in our chests;
our children will know them as well.
May they be the death cry
that comes out when we march to the fight,
and ringing in the mouth of the strong
they always make the tyrant tremble.
IV
If the foreign cannon intends
to invade, daring, our people;
let’s draw our arms
and know victory or death.
With its blood the proud Araucanian
inherited its courage to us;
and the sword doesn’t tremble in the hand
of that who defends the honor of Chile.
V
How pure, Chile, is your blue sky
And how pure the breezes that blow across you
And your countryside embroidered with flowers
Is a wonderful copy of Eden
How majestic are the snow-covered mountains
That were given to you by God as protection
And the sea that tranquilly bathes your shores
Promises future splendor for you
VI
That pride, oh, Homeland!, those flowers
growing on your fertile soil,
may they never be stepped on by invaders;
may your shadow cover them with peace.
Our chests will be your bastion
in your name we will know how to win,
or your noble, glorious emblem
will see us fall in the fight.
Beloved Homeland, receive the vows
That Chile gave you on your altars
That you be either the tomb of the free
Or a refuge from oppression
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It gave me two bright stars that when I open them,
I perfectly distinguish the black from white
And in the sky above, her starry backdrop
And within the multitudes the man I love
