by Elisabeth Horan
1937
Life is something I had with you
It doesn’t matter which ulcer
you choose
Her or me
Me or her
Love or agony
My body becomes
a trash yard
Pero mírala –
Floreciendo como una mujer
Más hermosa – más útil – para ti
Yet look at her –
Blossoming like a woman
more lovely – more useful – for you
She is so fragrant and youthful
I’m a gaping wound –
I bring three
Arms for three persons –
Pero mírala –
A la Christina – piernas abiertas
Walk toward you;
Yet look at her –
At this Christina – her open legs
Her open mouth,
Opens ever wider;
Gaping over your face
She positions herself – arriba
Injects some venom
Into you — your cuerpo
Don’t try to touch me like you used to do –
Rather touch me as if
I was more like her
Walking toward you
Legs spread open…
Y mírala ahora
Caminando a ti
Her open legs…
And look at her now –
Skirt up over her head
Thin and loose, it undulates
In your face
As you begin to rub her –
Y mira como ella no esta
And look how she is not
Shot open
Like this V –
This arrow barb; mirame –
I cannot pull it out of me –
My infection
Sinks deep, ever deeper
Into my deer meat…
The flies, the maggots…
I multiply till no flesh is left –
For a school girl’s branding;
Childish loss of virginity;
She is at once full of blood
She is at once exsanguinated
Her heart not the
Only thing on the ground
Once implantation fails…
Once the zygote
Is amputated—
Pero, mírala – mi hermana –
Ya viene la virgen
Está abierta –
Bailando, bailando – a ti
Y mírame – tu viuda –
Piernas cerradas
Retirando, retirando – de ti
Aver, como te quedas tu –
Las manos decididas;
Y tu cara que sonría –
Contento. Abierto,
Entre las dos hermanas.
Yet look at her – my sister –
Here comes the virgin
Her arms open –
Dancing, dancing toward you —
And look at me – your widow –
My legs closed –
Retreating, retreating – away from you
And now, look at you –
Expectant hands;
Your smiling face –
Content. Open,
Between two sisters.
This poem will appear in the upcoming book Self Portrait, to be published by Cephalopress on September 30th 2019. Many thanks to the Cephalopress team for allowing us to showcase it here. And be sure to view Frida Kahlo’s painting Memory (The Heart).
About the book: This book of poetry explores the life and work of Frida Kahlo, suffusing the intensity of her life into a dual-language collection. In her love of language and Frida, emerging poet Elisabeth Horan offers a beautiful meditation on art and that which inspires it. Her connection to Frida is drawn out through the vivid poems and imagery, embedding the personal into a life-story that has become well-known. Horan’s collection illuminates a new approach to Kahlo’s life in its emphasis on shared experience and poetic tribute.
About the Author: Elisabeth Horan is an imperfect creature from Vermont advocating for animals, children and those suffering alone and in pain – especially those ostracized by disability and mental illness.
She is Editor in Chief at Animal Heart Press, and Co-Editor at Ice Floe Press. She has several chaps and collections coming out this year including Bad Mommy / Stay Mommy at Fly on the Wall Press, Odd list Odd house Odd me at Twist It Press, Was It R*pe, from Rhythm and Bones Press, and Just to the Right of the Stove, with Hedgehog Poetry Press. She is a poetry mentor and proud momma to Peter and Thomas. She recently earned her MFA from Lindenwood University and received a 2018 Best of the Net Nomination from Midnight Lane Boutique and a 2018 Pushcart Nomination from Cease Cows. Follow her @ehoranpoet & ehoranpoet.com Her other books are available to buy from: https://www.ehoranpoet.com/my-bookstore.html
Where to buy the book:
From Publisher: https://www.cephalopress.com/books/
From Amazon (ebook): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XZFJ3CT