08-26-2016, 03:20 PM
Loving against Love
Entering into the intimate cruelty
of revising one with two,
but not with three.
Taking care of the trunk more than the fruit
and nesting, if necessary,
on the fallen trunk
in its bare root.
Insisting sometimes on the flower,
but without the theft of cutting it
or seizing its perfume.
And when two no longer revise one,
recapturing the cruelty of loving against love
and traveling toward zero,
only toward zero.
-Roberto Juarroz
translated by Mary Crow
Entering into the intimate cruelty
of revising one with two,
but not with three.
Taking care of the trunk more than the fruit
and nesting, if necessary,
on the fallen trunk
in its bare root.
Insisting sometimes on the flower,
but without the theft of cutting it
or seizing its perfume.
And when two no longer revise one,
recapturing the cruelty of loving against love
and traveling toward zero,
only toward zero.
-Roberto Juarroz
translated by Mary Crow