Jungle Kill
Translated By Suzanne Jill Levine
I uproot & save
mental venture
I split the dream
of the slow
& neutral
Persist
& breathe
My little flask
Pointy wisp
Pubescent valve
Join
the game
I smoke
& praise you
Hew
& raze you
Jungle
kill
Bulldoze
your sierra
Fire
to ash
I wait
& wait
And you
where are you
Fragrant
lantana
Aim
your voice
In calm
plains
In silence
wild
Erasing
the thirst
The weightless
altar
insults
the blood
Awake
diagonals
Rot
& Stand
Go & go
Flower
gaining
Plant your will!
Copyright Credit: Cecilia Vicuna, "Jungle Kill" from Unravelling Words & the Weaving of Water. Copyright © 1992 by Cecilia Vicuna. Reprinted by permission of Graywolf Press.
Source: Unravelling Words & the Weaving of Water (Graywolf Press, 1992)