Untitled (By chance the voice sounds educated)

Spanish

Por suerte la voz está educada,
es autónoma, preguntas y
respuestas de entonación pertinente
y vivaz. Lo que no es voz se repliega
y aguarda, a la espera de que el ruido
cese, de que vuelva el silencio.
Es física la voz,
la retirada — hormigas y
penumbra, acurrucado
daño — no es voz.

— Olvido García Valdés, Y todos estábamos vivos
Winner of Spain’s Premio Nacional in 2007
(Tusquets Editores © Olvido García Valdés 2006, p. 129)
REPRINTED WITH THE AUTHOR’S PERMISSION
English

By chance the voice sounds educated,
independent, questions and
answers with pertinent
and lively intonation. What is not voice
pulls back, waits, expecting the noise
to stop, silence to return.
The voice is physical,
the withdrawal — ants and
half-light, damage
doubled up — is not voice.

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