Sentinels

MyWishList Esthela Calderón Givemethedesperate causeofa butterfly I idolize, thedisturbing avenueofyour back, pathwhere I canarchmychest. Givemetheimmaculate unfulfilled delirium oftheflowers, theillumination ofyour face, where I canundress themudfrom mylegs. Givemethereliquary that torments anatheist's neck, hopeandtheechoofthewordYes, where I canmakemyworldeternal. Giveme,then, silly things toa harmonica's rhythm, theperversity ofdays with their handsraisedtosaygoodbye, dogdaysandtheir cycle ofwaiting, thewater missing from thefountain, empty ofcoins. Translations from theSpanish BySteven F. White Wheel of Fortune Rosario Murillo Signsonthenight's skin A cartography ofsighs andother voicesfrom thebody sinkintothenight's skin tallgrass, green grass theglassofwater that isyour mouth I godowntheburning path with leadenfeet urging wingsandfeathers toshakeoff therubble < z < o oc < b o x û. Sentinels Rosario Murillo Myhousefullofbutterflies blue,white, golden butterflies that fly with mydreams orreturn withthem (thesoulthat comesbackandtakes itsplace) Yesterday, I caught a hummingbird trapped inhandkerchiefs today, another oneflew off, intense vertigo lyrical yellow insustained frenzy likemyheart halfway up thetree debating between water andair Portraiton Obsidian Rosario Murillo He plunges hislongblackbeak intowater lifts headandeyestocatch something hiswholebodysurges, offers notruce andtakesoff blackhareblackcoalblackobsidian blackOctober night blackflag blackmourning blacksadness, mirrored background ofwater great-tailed grackle against theplanet's tilt that falls likea tower doubling overonitself atthemost bitter time ofday ofnight Translations from theSpanish BySteven F. White RosarioMurillo(b.1951)isNicaragua's First Ladyandone ofthefounders oftheGradascultural movement inthe1970sthat brought literature, art, andmusictogether intoan important force for socialchange.Shealsodirected theSandinista AssociationofCultural Workers inthe1980s.Sheistheauthor ofa dozenbooksofpoetry, including Gualtayán (Amar) (1975),Undeber de cantar (1980), Amares combatir(1982), Enlas espléndidas ciudades (1985), and Las esperanzas misteriosas(1990). StevenF.Whiteisfinishing anecocritical study ofNicaraguan poetry. Hetranslated SevenTrees against theDying Light byPablo Antonio Cuadraand TheAngel ofRainbyCubanGastónBaqueroand istheco-author ofAyahuasca Reader. Hismostrecent bookofpoetry isBajolapalabradelasplantas(poesíaselecta:1979-2009). HeteachesLatin American literature atSt.Lawrence University. January-February2011 115

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