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: me gustaría mirar todo de lejos pero contigo :

 

 

No te quedes inmóvil

al borde del camino

no congeles el júbilo

no quieras con desgana

no te salves ahora

ni nunca

no te salves

no te llenes de calma

no reserves del mundo

sólo un rincón tranquilo

no dejes caer los párpados

pesados como juicios

no te quedes sin labios

no te duermas sin sueño

no te pienses sin sangre

no te juzgues sin tiempo

 

pero si

pese a todo

no puedes evitarlo

y congelas el júbilo

y quieres con desgana

y te salvas ahora

y te llenas de calma

y reservas del mundo

sólo un rincón tranquilo

y dejas caer los párpados

pesados como juicios

y te secas sin labios

y te duermes sin sueño

y te piensas sin sangre

y te juzgas sin tiempo

y te quedas inmóvil

al borde del camino

 

y te salvas

entonces

no te quedes conmigo.

 

 

Don't remain still

by the side of the road

don't freeze joy

don't love without wanting

 don't save yourself now

or ever

don't save yourself

don't get filled with calm

don't reserve from the world

     just a tranquil corner

don't let your eyelids fall

heavy as  judgements

don't  become without lips

don't sleep without sleep

     don't think yourself without blood

don't judge yourself without time

 

     but if

     in spite of all

     you can't avoid it

     and you freeze joy

     and you love without wanting

     and you save yourself now

     and you get filled with calm

     and you reserve from the world

     just a tranquil corner

     and you let your eyelids fall

     heavy as judgements

     and you dry up without lips

     and you sleep without sleep

     and you think yourself without blood

     and you judge yourself without time

     and you remain still

     by the side of the road

    

     and you save yourself

     then

     don't stay with me.

Once in a while

joy throws little stones at my window

it wants to let me know that it's waiting for me

but today I'm calm

I'd almost say even-tempered

I'm going to keep anxiety locked up

and then lie flat on my back

which is an elegant and comfortable position

for receiving and believing news

 

who knows where I'll be next

or when my story will be taken into account

who knows what advice I still might come up with

and what easy way out I'll take not to follow it

 

don't worry, I won't gamble with an eviction

I won't tattoo remembering with forgetting

there are many things left to say and suppress

and many grapes left to fill our mouths

 

don't worry, I'm convinced

joy doesn't need to throw any more little stones

I'm coming

I'm coming.

me gustaría mirar

todo de lejos

pero contigo

I would like

to look at everything from a distance

but with you

la muerte

es sólo un síntoma

de que hubo vida

after all

death is only a sign

that there was life

 

poems by mario benedetti

 

photos taken in colonia, uruguay

april 2008
COMMENTS
OscarDaniel said at 8:48 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
Muy buenas fotos Eduardo , y el homenaje al gran escritor uruguayo , quedó perfecto!! Un uruguayo te lo agradece!
Liliana said at 9:17 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
Múltiple, Eduado... Desde lejos, pero "con vos": ¿lejos, quien vaya en el velero...?¿O el perro, que se acerca y se va...? ¿Quien se queda imaginariamente en los bancos...?¿Nosotros, espectadores...?¿Nosotros, desde mil lugares del Tabblo...? Es verdad, las fotos se ven mejor, ahora. Todo parece como salido del humo, de la bruma, de un sueño. Ya te dije que parecíia onírico...
Cuando me contaste que te habías comprado a Benedetti no te lo dije, pero "no me encanta", en general. Sin embargo, ¡¡muy buena selección!! Aunque el texto "Once in a while..." , ¿es de él también...?¿Y en castellano?
Oscar: ¡¡precioso tu país!! Adoro Colonia. Oscar: you have a beautiful country!!! I adore Colonia!!!
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:26 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
OSCAR: Me gusta muchísimo la obra de Benedetti, y cuándo bajé estas fotos él fué el primer nombre que se me ocurrió. Me encantó Colonia, especialmente por ese clima tan "se sueño" que encontré al llegar.

LILIANA: São perguntas retóricas, não?... O poema apenas em Inglês é do Benedetti também, só que não encontrei espaço para o original. E o título deste tabblo oscilou entre "soledad", "lejanía", "solitude", "desolación", até se encontrar nesse haikai. Ainda não sei se foi a melhor escolha. Aceitam-se sugestões (o tabblo ainda não é público, está em "soft opening", só para convidados...).
Liliana said at 9:34 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
¡Retoriquísimas! Tanto como las de doña Casimira para Dudú ... Tanto como quién es ese "tú" del "contigo"... Me parece perfecto el titulo, no creo que soledad o desolación sea lo que se siente, no, al menos, yo. hay presencias como las del velero y el perro y los bancos, aunqe desnudos, no están olvidados, abandonados. tal vez podría pensar en una partida. Pero no es sinónimo de soledad. Alguien se puede ir pero no dejarte un hueco en el alma, se puede ir pero quedarse en vos.
¿Hiciste más Tabblos secretos de este viaje...?
Pkeener said at 10:28 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
this has touched me like few others have ever. the last photo, especially. but they all fit together with this absolutely heart felt poem. I really needed this. thank you.
Pkeener said at 10:29 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
also the ceop on the last dog. surreal. beautiful
Pkeener said at 10:29 p.m. on Apr 29, 2008:
i meant "crop"
Eduardo.affonso said at 7:25 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
LILIANA: Não haverá fotos ou álbuns secretos, apenas alguns não serão tornados públicos de imediato. Assim dá tempo de rever alguma coisa. Nestas fotos, a ausência está representada pelos bancos vazios - e, talvez, também, pelo cão sem dono, pelo barco ancorado (e sem passageiros). Uma palavra que vc usou ("hueco") também poderia ter sido o título. Acho que todas as "presenças" que estão nessas fotos são, antes de qualquer outra coisa, ausências.

PAM: I'm glad you liked this. I arrived early in Colonia, in a foggy morning, and took these photos when the city was still and asleep. This street dog followed me for a while, and made me feel even more lonely. I had bought the complete works of Benedetti a few days earlier, and would like to use some of his poems, not only because he is Uruguayan, but because his poetry fits perfectly with the mood of this photos. Unfortunatelly I couldn't find their translations into English.
Mirella said at 7:31 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Bellissime foto, specialmente la prima e l'ultma. E' vero, la poesia fits very well with them. Grazie
Leftofcenter said at 7:33 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
man, when you're good you're brilliant. the fog, the bench, the sailboat in the distance. and the poem of course. perfect. love it. a fave. bwana.
Eduardo.affonso said at 7:40 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Grazie, MIRELLA. This old quai was a poem by itself.

Thanks, ANNELIES. I think I'm better when I'm bad, but it's a pretty controversial opinion...
Chiloedream said at 7:48 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Du grand art. Bravo mon ami.
Leftofcenter said at 7:50 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
"would like to look at everything from a distance
but with you"
it means "no commitment but together". who translated for you? I'm not sure I understand all of it (English is not my mother tongue either) but it's about avoiding boredom, limitations. freedom within a relationship. I think.
Ira said at 8:00 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
I do not understand words. I only feel. Beauty. Loneliness. Pressing melancholy. And more - is very close to my condition of soul. Magnificent photos. I like them.
Ira said at 8:02 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
It tabblo - present verses. These photos - present poetry.
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:29 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Merci, THIERRY!

ANNELIES: Poetry is always hard to translate - and to understand (if we prefer to decode it, instead of just feel it, enjoy it). "To look everything from a distance / but with you" gave me the feeling of "alone, yet not lonely". That's exactly the way I felt during this trip, celebrating my birthday all by myself.

IRA: Just loved your comments. I think these images say more than any words - and they reached your soul, the same way they had reached mine. This is visual poetry, I agree.
Jigs said at 8:29 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Exquisite, Edu, absolutely exquisite. The poem expresses so beautifully everything that the images convey. Together, so full of power. And the title... brilliant!
Pkeener said at 8:44 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
I also really really like the layout you used. the plain grey background and no border on the photos. so artistic
Rita.Mandarino said at 8:48 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Acho sempre que todo munda já disse tudo...ficaram ótimas Edu, como sempre.
PhotoPop said at 8:56 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Profound words and pictures, very moving. Excellent.
Lifequest22 said at 10:04 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Stunning shots, Eduardo. These really capture the mood. The photos and poems blend well.
Wildthing said at 10:19 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Nice set. I especially liked the last shot.
Chaitiamma said at 10:42 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Love the lone lamppost and the chair, seems like the end of the world. Great Tabblo !!!
Hollyridger said at 11:08 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
This is one of the most moving tabblos I have ever seen. You have successfully put together some wonderful photos, poetry that really touches, subject matter that is close to my heart .... truly brilliant. You have brought tears to my eyes.
Marranei said at 11:30 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Nossa! Que textos lindos! E que belíssimas imagens (by the way: me lembrou o pier do final do filme "Proposta Indecente", vc viu?)! Eu gostei bastante do título tbm! Parabéns!
Mjpileggi said at 11:54 a.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Wonderful! That last photo is a classic!
Candlepower said at 1:36 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Outstanding and Dreamy! Bravo!
Tishfish said at 2:53 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
So peaceful looking ! ! ! !
EMA said at 3:11 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Beautiful poem and excellent shots. The poetry in words and the poetry in images... Wonderful!
Liliana said at 4:52 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Interesantísimo, no todos sienten igual... aunque hay una tendencia marcada ¿por los otros comentarios? No lo sé, no termino de ver desolación... "Sorry"... Y si es "la presencia de la ausencia"... ¿es saudade? ¡¡Basta de preguntas retóricas!
Lifequest22 said at 4:53 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Isn't it nice when so many people view our tabblos and take the time to leave comments.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:10 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
JIGS: You know your opinion means a lot to me, so when you say "exquisite" or "briliant" I really feel honored. Salamat, kaibigan.

PAM: I wanted the background to be as clean and simple as the photos themselves. In this case, less is much more.

RITA: Obrigado. Mesmo que todo mundo já tenha dito, eu não me importo de ouvir de novo...

PHOTOPOP: "Still waters run deep", don't you agree?

LINDA: It's always very nice when you notice so many people stop by, enjoy your work, see the world through your eyes for a while. It's even better when they leave comments, and let you know how they felt about it - we are, in this moment, like friends around a fireplace, telling stories, sharing experiences.

MIKE: Welcome to my tabblos!

DAVID: I had the same feeling, like being in the edge of the world. Just me and a street dog.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:29 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
NOREEN: Your comment was the best compliment I could ever get! Thanks a lot!

AGNES: Na verdade, havia até alguns outros poemas mais interessantes do Benedetti, mas não consegui a tradução para o Inglês (e eu não ousaria fazê-la eu mesmo, com meu inglezinho de IBEU do interior). O cenário em Colonia nessa manhã era mesmo admirável - ainda há mais por vir... A propósito, não vi "Proposta Indecente" (é um antigo, com a Demi Moore, não?).

MONICA: Thanks! Yes, this bench in a deserted quai reminded me of some classic scenes - the end of a movie, a farewell, someone leaving forever.

PAT: "Dreamy" is a perfection definition for this landscape, isn't it?

DOREEN: This area is supposed to be very crowded on Summer, but it was absolutelly peaceful the morning I arrived - and I prefer it this way.

EDITE: Some people tend to mistake "poem" for "poetry". You got the point: a poem is poetry in words, but we can find poetry also in images, music, movements.

LILIANA: Pra mim é desolado, sim, talvez porque eu use essa palavra não exatamente no sentido que tem no dicionado (triste, consternado), mas como algo vazio, baldio, nu. Não sei. E "saudade" talvez não seja a única definição para "presença da ausência". Desolação também deve servir.
Love2laugh said at 7:13 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Wonderful Poem, Eduardo!! I love the pictures too. So melo and tranquil to look at. What a beautiful Tabblo you have created. I LOVE IT !!!
Leftofcenter said at 8:27 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
friends around a fireplace?
Liliana said at 8:54 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
¿Es el perro del sueño del tigrecito, no? O parecido...
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:01 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
Thanks, SHEILA. It was a very beautiful place, and I spent hours there, just staring at the sea, and waiting for the fog to vanish.

ANNELIES: Friends around fire, family around the table, lovers in bed...

LILIANA: Acho que o cachorro do sonho foi o primeiro. Este aí é o número 3. O número 2 vai aparecer em algum tabblo, daqui a pouco.
Love2laugh said at 10:19 p.m. on Apr 30, 2008:
It obviously was WELL WORTH the wait for the fog to lift. SPECTACULAR PICS.
AliDar said at 1:03 a.m. on May 1, 2008:
I wish I could think of something to say to give you back what you just gave me. Peaceful, yes, but this tab just tossed some fuel on a fire that needed a bit of stoking. Thank you Eduardo, this is absolutely brilliant!
Noe said at 2:03 a.m. on May 1, 2008:
Muy bello tabblo Eduardo, tanto tus imagenes como los poemas de Benedetti se mezclaron de una manera bellísima.
Debdog said at 9:30 a.m. on May 1, 2008:
very hauntingly,beautiful...an aching sadness, loneliness,but not alone...can't put into words but this is VERY EVOCATIVE of my emotions...and the loyal dog. :)
Welshchick said at 11:38 a.m. on May 1, 2008:
So emotional...I agree with Deb...the beautiful dog looks sad...like he has grown accustomed to waiting...the pier is endless...the sea seems even more endless~This is a masterpiece!
Setu said at 12:11 p.m. on May 1, 2008:
Eduardo, these are wonderful and most effective shots, and words too ! love the rule of thirds here.
Lucemiami said at 6:54 p.m. on May 1, 2008:
Eduardo tanto el poema como las fotos me estremecieron ...todo esta a la espera, nada se mueve..el barco , la gente, el perro esperan como si estuviesen clavados en el tiempo..hay nostalgia , incertidumbre y silencio... El farol es como un faro en medio de la nada y el banco el mejor sitio para sentarse y ver pasar el tiempo..
Snooway said at 9:44 p.m. on May 1, 2008:
wonderful!!
Sirnicolay said at 9:56 p.m. on May 1, 2008:
Outrageously amazing! Great job! :)
Magedimages said at 2:44 a.m. on May 2, 2008:
Un vrai régal ! Des jeux de lignes et de couleurs très travaillés et de la vie en prime. Fort !
Cschwenkler said at 1:30 p.m. on May 3, 2008:
obrigada... me hizo pensar en mil cosas a la vez y me dejo con saudade de no-estoy-segura-que... sobre todo el primer poema. fotos bellisimas, tudo belleza, valeu!!
Chilla said at 1:32 p.m. on May 3, 2008:
An extraordinary tabblo so beautifully created with wonderful photography
Ameliezar57 said at 11:39 a.m. on May 4, 2008:
Te felicito , una combinacion perfecta, ya en si ;el eco de la vison fotografica es una poesia y acompañada del escrito hacen una melodia acompasada.
21-gramm said at 1:05 p.m. on May 8, 2008:
gentle nostalgia for the cause unknown edges...
Bo_bo_92 said at 9:35 p.m. on May 27, 2008:
the words flow like molten honey lovely absolutely love it
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