poems by José Muchnik
José Muchnik
José Muchnik (josemuchnik@gmail.com), Poet and anthropologist, born on November 2nd, 1945 in a hardware store of Boedo, a district of Buenos Aires-Argentina, the city where his parents, Russian immigrants in these lands, had put down roots. His childhood took place among barrels of plaster and drums of fuel, among migrants waves of diverse latitudes which looked for a place of peace to live. Thirty years later, with the arrival of the military dictatorship, he emigrated in his turn. He lives in France since 1976, realizes a doctorate in anthropology in the « École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales» of Paris. He specialized in the study of local food cultures, going through diverse country of Africa, Asia and Latin America. He published numerous books of poetry, novels, anthropological works. As part of his work he has taken numerous photographs, most of which have not yet been exploited, although he made several photographic exhibitions: at UNESCO (Paris), in the FNAC of Montpellier France, in the house of poetry in Havana Cuba. Founding member of the Franco-Argentine group “Travesías Poéticas”, of the “Collectif Poétique Effraction: Poètes des cinq continents”, of the group “Crue Poétique”, in France. Permanent contributor to the newspaper “Desde Boedo”, to the cultural newspaper "Generación Abierta", of Buenos Aires, and to the poetry review “Souffles” of Montpellier. Organizer of numerous poetic manifestations in Paris and musical poetic shows associating tango and poetry. Last Publications : “Sefikill (Serial FInancial KIllers), words for the new millennium”, 2014, poems and stories, Spanish, ed. CICCUS, Buenos Aires. “Poetic critique of mathematical reason”, 2015, poems, bilingual Spanish-French, Ed. L’Harmattan France. “Geriatrikón”, 2017, novel, Spanish, ed. CICCUS, Buenos Aires. “Torns: exiles, duels, walls”, 2018, poems and stories, Spanish, ed. CICCUS, Buenos Aires. “Chant pour Paris”, 2019, French, ed. Unicité, France “Di-amants”, 2020, ed. CICCUS, Buenos Aires. “Quarantine poems, 2020 ed. CICCUS, Buenos Aires. “Déchirures ”, 2020, French, ed. Unicité, France
Corona Virus (This is not a poem, it is a "poetic invocation" against the plague) José Muchnik (Translated from Spanish Argentine by Eduardo Dvorkin in collaboration with the author) The virus has arrived carnival of death The virus has arrived without passport clandestine Arrives on foot arrives by train, killing on the street Corona! Corona virus! It also arrives by bus! Without papers without visa. Who saw his color? It's red it's black, it's yellow and white You have to stop them, you have to expel them! Donald wake up, millions are coming You have to tighten the hate and the bolts Raise walls with dollars and stones. Brexit virus exit, brexit virus exit You have to stop them, you have to expel them! Chuky chuky chuky chuk! Don't panic my friend don't panic King Momo kill the virus with music The virus are you, the virus are you You who lock the clouds in cages You who draw the sky from the dreams. You who mistake happiness for money Donald wake up, millions are coming You have to tighten the hate and the bolts Raise walls with dollars and stones. Brexit virus exit, brexit virus exit You have to stop them, you have to expel them! Chuky chuky chuky chuk! Corona Mexican beer Corona crown of the queen Crown of the queen Corona Corona Coco, Corona queen The virus has arrived, I lock myself in the shed I close the windows I put on my shorts Eat French fries with a Mac Do Don't panic my friend don't panic King Momo kill the virus with music Brexit virus exit, brexit virus exit You have to stop them, you have to expel them! Chuky chuky chuky chuk! March 2020
HIROSHIMA MEMORY José Muchnik Your ivory face blew off in a fragile instant of the gods mercury density whispered in winds your planetary breath and you were no more silk thread caressing the sunset’s waist Should no one forget! ! ! Brother of the Andes you tell them scream them Hiroshima in “quechua” tell them with your music of “quenas” and “ charangos” Hiroshima will be echo of mountain chain in the memory Brother of Africa you tell them whisper Hiroshima in “bambara” Hiroshima will be code of tam-tam in the air yoruba or lingalá hymnes between your seas winged sound of baobabs in the desert Hiroshima in my language I pronounce you … in the musical branches that knitted the yell of my dreams But nobody japanesse brothers nobody will ever know how to ask for forgivenesss Nobody will pronounce Hiroshima with fine accent of millenary porcelain Should no one forget ! ! ! Hiroshima is no more Silk thread caressing the sunset’s waist fine face of ivory and porcelain Hiroshima in now word of memory walking and seeking the peace of throats. 18 de febrero 2003 Translation from Spanish (Argentina): Elena Rubinstein
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