So Much April in October translated by Jordi Doce and Lawrence Schimel

Translated from the Spanish by Jordi Doce and Lawrence Schimel

‘When the roof flies off the house of language
& words no longer give shelter, I speak.’
       — Alejandra Pizarnik

1
So much pain written on this body.
So much light flooding these clear eyes.
The rose is without reason –
you knew that already.
Pain is always without purpose.

2
In the hospital time is warped.
It follows different patterns:
hot milk at four and eleven,
breakfast at nine,
so many pills in little plastic cups,
blood pressure measured morning and night,
doctor’s visits at ten more or less,
lunch at one, so early…
...