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Three Poems in Spanish and in English, by Sergio Ortiz.

Disquieting Muses Mother, in your second death, who ties the handkerchief that seals your mouth?  Appearances descend wearing anonymous faces, disquieting muses patrolling my cradle and sanity.   Ariel can groom you with the cow's udder, or shower you with salty water. I am busy, mother, and in a festive mood, alive.  Alive.

Musas Inquietantes ¿Madre, en tu segunda muerte quién ata el pañuelo que sella tu boca? Las apariencias descienden con rostro anónimo, musas inquietantes que rondan mi moisés, mi cordura. Pídele a Ariel te acicale  con ubre de vaca, o baños tibios de sal. Pues yo estoy de fiesta, he vuelto a vivir.  Madre, estoy vivo.  Vivo.

 

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They murmur monster     that’s what they think they say         I proselytize                            spinning on the head of a needle and are assured       my erection intensifies the color         of my fur they say I meddle                 around holes and fistfuck them                 with urban dictionaries I’d like to feel something from them perhaps that thing               called human warmth

Murmuran monstruo          eso piensan y murmuran              que hago prosélitos parado en la cabeza de una aguja aseguran                   mi erección aumenta el color           de mi pelaje que cavo huecos para enterrar mi        puño dentro de su ano y hurgo diccionarios            completamente urbanos a mí me agradaría                                sentir algo de ellos tal vez eso que                     nombran calor humano

 

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Among Those that Tackle Trash to Miguel Hernández on his centenary I, I, I stopped down the road, waited for you to bleed into my wound. Was it that you thought my pen had no clout?

Entre Aquéllos que Enfrentan la Basura Yo, yo, yo paré más abajo del camino a esperar que sangraras dentro de mi herida. ¿Pensaste que mi pluma no tendría poder?

 

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Ortiz is a retired educator, poet, and photographer. He has a B.A. in English literature, and a M.A. in philosophy. Flutter Press released his debut chapbook, "At the Tail End of Dusk", in October of 2009. Ronin Press released his second chapbook, "topography of a desire", in May of 2010. Avantacular Press released his first photographic chapbook: "The Sugarcane Harvest", May 2010. He was recently published, or is forthcoming in: Letralia, The Shine Journal, The 13th Warrior Review, Deuce Coupe, and Heavy Bear.

This is his first appearance in Offcourse.

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