From “Knots”
By Teresa Soto
Translated by Nicholas F. Callaway
Say, you or you, whichever: Why so much laughter? Why the celebration?
Today we laugh for the day is done
and sorrow did not exhaust us.
——
Say, you, or you: Is there something you’re touching?
Why do you hold out those hands?
One day the fruit will fall, we say.
Now we’re just bearing the weight
of the day.
——
Because the secret is followed by revelation
we fed
that wild animal,
polished it,
cared for it
with our silence.
Its appearance
was to be spectacular:
a clean, shimmering beast,
brimming with health.
Translated from the Spanish
