Roof of the Whale Poems

Juan Calzadilla is one of Venezuela’s most celebrated poets, painters, and art critics. He is the author of more than twenty books of poetry and a recipient of Venezuela’s National Prize for the Visual Arts. His work, across both mediums, is characterized by political consciousness and formal innovation.Katherine M. Hedeen has translated some of the most respected Latin American poets into English and has been a finalist for both the Best Translated Book Award and the National Translation Award. She serves as managing editor for Action Books and is a professor of Spanish at Kenyon College.Olivia Lott’s translations have received recognitions from the Academy of American Poets, PEN America, and Words Without Borders. She is a visiting assistant professor of Spanish at Washington and Lee University.

“Calzadilla addressed his poems to a specific audience during a momentous time; and yet his poems feel as though they were written last week precisely for us. Unvarnished, unimproved, shamanistic, his poems exude a raw, tumultuous energy that legendary translator Katherine Hedeen and her savvy co-translator Olivia Lott catch every drop of. But be careful, reader. Don’t start this book at night; you not only won’t sleep a wink, but you may find yourself far from home—as far as the Caracas of your imagination—rushing through ill-lit streets in a frenzy.”—Forrest Gander

• Foreword by VÍctor RodrÍguez NÚÑezIntroduction by Katherine M. Hedeen and Olivia LottDictado por la jaurÍa / Dictated by the Pack (1962)DICTADO POR LA JAURÍA / DICTATED BY THE PACKvivo a diario / i live day by dayfuncionario que celebra un ritual / a civil servant celebrates a ritualescorpiÓn / scorpion vecindad del buitre / vulture neighborhoodesperando salvaciÓn / waiting for salvationgracias al barniz / thanks to the varnishmingitorio / urinaluna sala de juego / a cardroomme reconozco / i see melos mÉtodos necesarios / the necessary methodshe sido otro / i have been anothergolpeando el abismo / hitting the abyssCON MALOS MODALES / WITH BAD MANNERScon malos modales / with bad mannerscuarzo / quartzel magma debe retornar / the magma must returnen memoria del Ángel / in memory of the angellos horizontes son nuestros brazos / the horizons are our armsEL INVISIBLE SALE DE LA CASA / THE INVISIBLE MAN LEAVES THE HOUSE“una vez que se toma el sombrero. . .” / “once a hat’s been picked up. . .”DESCENDIENTE DE AHAB / DESCENDENT OF AHAB“para un pÚblico enfermo. . .” / “for a sick public. . .”fin del acto / end of the actel doble hace su entrada / the double enters the scenemi vocaciÓn de actor / my vocation as an actorla venganza / revengeposte / postescalÓn / stepcadena sola / single chaincuento / storyun hilo sobre el abismo / a thread above the abysssÓlo comer es una empresa / only eating is a businessme levanto / i get upjonÁs siempre / always jonahMalos modales / Bad Manners (1965)“Ciudadano libre a un palmo por encima. . .” / “Free citizen just an inch above. . .”CONTANDO HASTA CERO / COUNTING TO ZEROContando hasta cero / Counting to Zero“Mis decisiones se encuentran demasiado cerca. . .” / “My decisions are too close. . .”“Despierto     Sigo vivo por ese solo instante. . .” / “Awake     I am still alive for that one moment. . .”“Todas mis preocupaciones son el hilo de donde cuelgo. . .” / “All my worries are the thread I hang from. . .”Las armas invisibles / The Invisible ArmsHago un alto / I Take a BreakS u b s i s t o / I  S u b s i s tRequisitoria de los trajes vacÍos / Interrogation of the Empty SuitsRELEVO DE GUARDIA / CHANGING OF THE GUARDRelevo de guardia / Changing of the GuardPaisajes subterrÁneos / Subterranean LandscapesBajo nuevo aviso / Under New NoticeCiudad sola / Lonely CityUna coincidencia / A coincidence“Los espectÁculos banales. . .” / “Banal spectacles. . .”CACERÍA / HUNT“Me llevan como una bestia domÉstica. . .” / “Like a tamed beast. . .”El prisionero de su conciencia / The Prisoner of His ConscienceÓrbitas separadas / Separate Orbits“Si he avanzado hacia adelante. . .” / “If I have made any progress. . .”Debo decir / I Should SayDe transformaciones / On Transformations“Demandas clemencia. . .” / “You demand clemency. . .”Las contradicciones sobrenaturales / The Supernatural Contradictions (1967)RELEVO DE GUARDIA / CHANGING OF THE GUARDDecisiones / DecisionsCorona de reyes / Crown of KingsAses / AcesLegÍtima defensa / Legitimate DefenseTomas el pavimiento por la forma exacta de tu piel / You Take Pavement as the Precise Shape of Your SkinLas apuestas / The WagersArco de silex / Arc of SilexSISTEMA DE CONDUCTA / BEHAVIOR SYSTEMPor partida doble / Double EntryJaula para occisos / Cage for the SlainBestia I Bestia II Bestia III / Beast I Beast II Beast III“Suelo tomar extraÑas determinaciones. . .” / “I tend to make strange determinations. . .”Otra direcciÓn / A Different DirectionÓrdenes / OrdersImagen humeante / Smoking ImageCARNET DE ENUMERACIONES / ENUMERATIONS CARDMÁscara de papel / Paper MaskCubrir la duda con un mantel de fiesta / To Cover Doubt with a Fancy TableclothCuidado frÁgil / Warning Fragile“La mirada quiere claraboyas. . .” / “The glance wants skylights. . .”Fuerza bruta / Brute Force“Salud. . .” / “To your health. . .”“La contrariedad nacida. . .” / “The opposition born. . .”ABISMO PÚBLICO / PUBLIC ABYSSHÁbitos / HabitDentro de la roca vacÍa / Inside the Empty RockDe los reos / On PrisonersSetencia / SentenceMandamiento / CommandmentC14 / C14UN OJO DE CONTRAPESO / AN EYE AS COUNTERWEIGHTPiedra sobre piedra / Stone upon Stone“Sumiso” / “Submissive”“De una caja de asfÓdelos empujada contra la corriente. . .” / “From a box of asphodels pushed against the current. . .”“Pon atenciÓn Date cuenta ConcÉntrate. . .” / “Pay attention Realize Focus. . .”La quinta parte del espÍritu es el deseo de huir / The Fifth Part of the Spirit Is the Desire to Flee“Entre jaulas de occisos. . .” / “Among cages of the slain. . .”Appendix: An Interview with Juan Calzadilla by VÍctor RodrÍguez NÚÑez, translated by Katherine M. Hedeen and Olivia LottAcknowledgments