“Luz de octubre / October Light” by Xánath Caraza
La
canasta roja para pan está lista
Las
manos de Nila no paran
Hornean
felicidad
Hacen
flores de papel para el altar
Tejen
arcos de cempaxóchiles amarillas
Bordan
manteles de mariposas rojas
Campanadas
suenan a lo lejos
Anuncian
que la hora ha llegado
Hay que
abrirles la puerta
Ya
llegan, ya vienen
El humo
de copal marca el camino
Ya
llegan
Se oyen
los pasos de azúcar blanca
Las
voces del pasado
Las
risas se confunden con las campanadas
Entonan
su concierto
Anuncian
la llegada
El sol
se perdió entre las estrellas
Desde
las montañas nubladas
Descienden
las almas
Ya las
veo
El
pueblo se llena de alegría
Las
puertas de madera se abren
Para
los seres queridos que regresan esta noche
Tomados
de las manos, juntos
Los
vivos y las almas
Beben
chocolate
Y papel
picado
Ya
llegan, las almas descienden
Tan
sólo esta noche
Nila
descansa
Viejita
de manos grandes
De
pasos de azúcar blanca
Cuyas
manos no paran
Hornean
para las almas
Luz de
octubre que revuelve el alma
Xanath Caraza
October Light
The red bread basket is at hand
Nila’s hands do not stop
Bake happiness
Fold paper flowers for the altar
Weave yellow marigold arches
Embroider red butterfly tablecloths
Bells ring from afar
Announcing the hour upon us
Open the door
Here they come; they arrive
Copal smoke leads the way
Here they come
Their white sugar steps can be heard
Voices from the past
Laughter mixed with bells
Singing their concert
Announcing their arrival
The sun is lost among the stars
From the foggy mountains
The souls are descending
I see them
The town is full of happiness
The wooden doors are opening
For the loved ones returning tonight
Holding hands, together
Those alive and the souls
Drink hot cocoa
And colorful cut paper
Here they come, descending souls
Only tonight
Nila rests
Viejita with large hands
Of white sugar steps
Whose hands never stop
Baking for the souls
October light stirs in my soul
“Luz de octubre & October Light” by Xánath
Caraza are included in Conjuro (Caraza X., Mammoth Publications, 2012). Translated into the English by the author.
Conjuro received Second place in the ‘Best Poetry Book in Spanish’ category of
the 2013 International Latino Book Awards.
In 2013 Conjuro also received Honorable mention in
the ‘Best First Book in Spanish, Mariposa Award’ category of the 2013
International Latino Book Awards. Conjuro
was an award-winning finalist in the 'Fiction: Multicultural' category of
the 2013 International Book Awards.
