To Be Read In the Interrogative

[kadzeno.livejournal.com]

Have you seen
Have you truly seen
the snow the stars the felt steps of the breeze
Have you touched
really have you touched
the plate the bread the face of that woman you love
so much
Have you lived
like a blow to the head
the flash the gasp the fall the flight
Have you known
known in every pore of your skin
how your eyes your hands your sex your soft heart
must be thrown away
must be wept away
must be invented all over again

(by Julio Cortazar transl. by Stephen Kessler)

Comments

[burntcircles.livejournal.com]

Like the soundtrack of a fabulous life. So breathtaking, many thanks for this!

[kadzeno.livejournal.com]

i first read it in rus translation, it doesn't yield to eng version, though i suppose spanish original is the best one.
lack of interrogative marks makes the inversion more eloquent. and also i like it done by Arcángel Castillo Olivari (http://www.zonamoebius.com/Iepoca_2003-2007/2004/cronopio/SaveTwilight-english.html)