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Terry Collett Mar 2015
London Zoo?
Janice's gran said
when I told her
that Janice could come
to London Zoo with us

Yes
I said
Mum said to ask you  

her gran looked at me
then at Janice

best come in Benedict
and we can talk it over
London Zoo
she said to herself
as much to Janice and me

Janice was by
the front door
her eyes bright
as the sun
on a dew leaf
her mouth
slightly ajar

take a seat
for a moment Benedict
Gran said

gosh
Janice said
that'd be good
I've not been
to London Zoo before
well I did go
to that zoo on holiday
but it was ever so small
and never had
big animals in it
did it Gran?

Her gran sat down
on an armchair
and said
no it didn't
you are right Janice
it was too small
but London Zoo
now there is
a zoo
she said

Janice sat down
next to me
her hands together
as if she was praying
that her gran
would agree
and not find
a reason for her
not to go

how much
would it cost?
her gran asked

no idea
Mum didn't say
she just said
asked Janice's gran
if she could go

I see
said her gran
looking at me
with her eyes
but they were her
kind eyes
not the eyes
she wore sometimes
if she was angry
with Janice
over something

when are you going?
she asked

Sunday week
I said

she looked at Janice
with her eyes
and Janice looked back
with her eyes
almost pleading

after church?
Gran asked

o yes after church
I said
not saying
that I didn't go
to church often
on a Sunday
certainly not
with my old man  
and now and again
if my mother
wasn't too tired

who's going
with you?
her gran asked

I told her
my mother
and sister
and brother
and maybe
my old man

she nodded her head
a strand of hair
came loose
from her bun of hair
and her eyes
looked at Janice

well if Janice
has been good
up until then
I don't see why not
her gran said

o good
Janice said

I smiled and said
I'll tell Mum
your answer

but on the provider
that Janice has been good
Gran said
with a shake
of her grey haired head.
A BOY AND A GIRL AND HER GRAN ABOUT GOING TO LONDON ZOO IN 1956.
MY GRANNY IS HAYLEY FROM THE BRATAYLEY YOUTUBE SITE

YOU SEE, IVY GIMBERT WHO WAS MY GRANNY, LEFT HER LIFE

IN JANUARY 2004, WHEN I WAS SICK, AND RE ENTERED THE WORLD

AS ANNA IN BRATAYLEY, YOU SEE WHAT MY GRAN IS HOPING

TO ACHIEVE, IS HER GRANDSONS ALL OVER AUSTRALIA

WILL WATCH HER VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE, YOU SEE YOUTUBE STARTED

IN 2004, AND BUDDHA MADE IVY ANNA BECAUSE, THIS IS A WAY

TO REFORM MY EVIL JINGLES LIKE OOPS PLEASE KIDNAP CHRIS

YA KNOW TAKE HIM HOSTAGE TIE HIM UP AND, ANOTHER THING TOO

BUDDHA, WANTED FOR MY GRAN TO BE A HIT IN CYBER SPACE

SO GRAN AND NAN, CAN BE TWO INTERNET SENSATIONS, YOU

SEE NAN IS JOHN ROBERT RIMEL, GRAN IS ANNE, AND ANNE

IS THE OLDEST SISTER, I AM SURE, GRAN IS TRYING TO SHOW

HOW SHE ACTUALLY WAS, BECAUSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER

HER BRI URN, AND ME TRYING TO SHOWSHE IS LIKE  LIKE THE BIG KIDS, BUT BUDDHA REALLY

THOUGHT, IT’LL BE HEAPS BETTER TO PUT IVY INTO ANOTHER GIRL

YEAH, THIS WILL BE FUN SAID IVY, AND IVY WAS PLAYING AROUND IN CYBER SPACE

WITH NAN AND GRAN, AND THEY STARTED UP THESE CLUBS UP IS SPACE

WHERE I CAN PLAY AND HAVE FUN, YOU SEE GRAN IS A BIT DIFFERENT AS SHE

IS GOOFING AROUND AND NAN, IS A 14 YEAR OLD SINGER, SHOWING OFF HER

CREATIVITY WITH THE GUITAR, THROUGH JOHN ROBERT RIMEL, AND, AT PRESENT

HAYLEY IS ENJOYING BEING THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION WITH HER SISTER ANNIE,WHO IS GRAN

AND BROTHER CALEB WHO IS PETER SARGENT, A FORMER KEANE PLACE KID WHO KILLED HIMSELF

WHO DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND THESE 3 KIDS ARE KNOWN AS THE BRATS, WHILE JOHN

ROBERT RIMEL IS WORKING ON BEING A MUSICIAN, AND THE REASON WHY I KNOW THIS IS

BRIAN ALLAN IN CANBERRA IS CRONUS, AND WATCHES EVERY LIFE, GO FROM DEATH OF LAST LIFE

TO BIRTH OF NEW LIFE, CURRENTLY I AM KEEPING OUR FAMILY TOGETHER, THROUGH BUDDHISM

YA SEE, I HAVE A SPECIAL GIFT, OF BEING THERE IN PREVIOUS LIVES, MY VOICES ARE THE AFTERLIFE

I CAN’T HELP IT, IF I AM CRONUS, DUDES, AND IN 2003 I WAS SICK, WHEN I WISHED GRAN DEAD, I DIDN’T MEAN TO

BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU, BUDDHA TOOK CRONUS OFF ME, SO I CAN THINK ABOUT MY SPECIAL GIFT OF LIFE

BUT I MUST BE CAREFUL, THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA, ARE THE BEST WAYS OF GETTING YOUR STORY OUT

MY GRAN IS ANNE FROM BRATAYLEY NAN IS JOHN ROBERT RIMEL, DAD IS ELIZABETH CAMPBELL,

MARK JONES IS SUPERSONIC 3 YEAR OLD LIAM, AND THERE ARE HEAPS MORE TO NAME

MY GRAN REALLY ENJOYS BEING HAYLEY, YA SEE IT’S HER FAVOURITE

THE PARTY IN THE AFTERLIFE, WITH IVY GIMBERT, MAKING THE WIGS AN IN THING, AND A CHEAP WAY

FOR BRIAN TO BE CREATIVE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRIAN’S TAPESTRIES

AND IVY’S NEXT LIFE ANNE'S FAMILY HAD A PINK HAIR WIG, JUST LIKE MY SUSIE WIG

AND MY GRANDMA WHEN SHE SAYS BRIAN’S LIKE US, COULD SHE MEANS ONE OF THE CREATIVE FAMILIES

I AM PARANORMAL, I CAN’T HELP IT’S A BELIEF
Terry Collett Nov 2013
During the half term break
from school
Janice said
come see my new canary

Gran bought it for me
and so you went with her
through the Square
and across Bath Terrace

and into the block of flats
where she lived
with her gran and bird
and she was excited

and talked and talked
of the new canary
what do you call him?
you asked

Yellow
she said
because its yellow
and the name fits

and when you got
to her flat
her gran opened the door
and Janice said

I've brought Benedict
to see the new bird
her gran said
ok

and let you in
and Janice took you
into the sitting room
and there in a bird cage

was the new bird
sitting there
on a perch
making whistling noises

some say they talk
if you teach them
Janice said
and I'm going to teach it

to say things
and won't that be good?
providing you don't
teach it silly things

her gran said
my cousin had one
and he taught it
all kinds of bad words

which made
his mother mad
what kind of words?
Janice asked

never you mind
what words
her gran said
if I catch you teaching

this bird bad words
I'll tan your backside
I won't Gran
Janice said

just teach it
sensible words
well mind you do
her gran said

now how about
some lemonade and cake?
yes please
you both said

and her gran went off
to get the lemonade
and cake
and Janice put

her finger
through the bars
of the cage
and talked to the bird

but the bird
shuffled away from her
on the perch
and was quiet

still she talked to it
and but her finger in
as far as she could
but it just walked as

far from her
as it could go
staring at her
with it stark eyes

not very friendly is it?
you said
maybe it doesn't like
your red beret

maybe red frightens it?
so she took off
her red beret
and the bird came closer

and began chirping away
and it kind of pecked
at her finger
not roughly

but inquisitively
as if to find out
what it was
then it shuffled off again

and then went
and pecked at some
food from a feeder
at the side

of the cage
maybe I could get it out
sometime
and let it sit

on my finger
like I've seen done
on TV
Janice said

what if it flies away?
you asked
I'll keep the door
and windows closed

she said
and she opened
the cage door
and put her hand in

to get the bird
but the bird
moved away from her
and flapped its wings

what are you doing?
her gran said
entering the room
Janice took her hand out

of the cage
and shut the door
just wanted to let it
sit on my finger

Janice said
her gran put the tray
with lemonade
and pieces of cake

on the table
and came over
to the bird cage
you might have frightened it

then it might die
she peered in
at the canary
which was perched there

staring back at her
now don't you
do that again
do you hear?

yes Gran
Janice said sheepishly
her eyes lowered
nice bird

you said
maybe it's shy
at the moment
I guess after

a little while
it'll get friendly
do you think so?
Janice said

sure it will
you replied
her gran smiled
and walked off

back to the kitchen again
and you and Janice
ate the cake
and drank the lemonade

and you both watched
the canary as it chirped
and walked
along the perch

and there
on the side chair
was Janice's red beret
and she asked

what words
do I teach?
but you said
I couldn't say.
Terry Collett Apr 2015
YOU DID WHAT?
Janice's gran shouted
I fired a bow and arrow
Janice repeated

fired a bow and arrow?
Janice nodded
she wasn't going
to repeat it again

she knew her gran
would go off
the deep end
if she told her

but she couldn't
tell a lie
it was too complex
and required

a good memory
but when her gran
asked her where
she'd been and what

she'd been doing
she had to tell the truth
even if  it meant
a spanking

where about?
Gran asked
the bomb site
on Meadow Row

Janice said
doubling her chances
of punishment
what have I told you

about bomb sites?
not to go there
Janice said timidly
who were you with?

Gran asked
eyeing her grand-daughter
with her beady eyes
Benedict

Janice replied
Benedict?
and it was his
bow and arrow?

Janice nodded
and does his mother
know he has one?
yes she gave him

the money for it
Janice said
her gran sat down
on a chair

which indicated
that punishment
was coming
and where did you

fire the arrow?
at a wall
Janice said
what wall?

Gran asked
of a bomb out house
Janice informed
her gran looked

at the floor
then up at Janice again
and why a wall?
Janice hesitated

then said
Benedict drew a man
on the wall
with a head and heart

to aim at
drew a man?
her gran said
with chalk

Janice added
her gran sat back
in the chair
her hands on her knees

Janice knew now
punishment
was certain
and wished she could

stretch the truth
as Benedict was able
her gran sighed
and gazed at her

well you've told the truth
can't punish you for that
but don't do it again
or next time

you'll know
what to expect
Janice took in
a deep breath

and nodded her head
as Gran got up
off the chair
and gave her a sturdy stare.
A GIRL AND HER GRANDMOTHER AND TELLING THE TRUTH IN 1955.
Terry Collett May 2013
Janice of red beret fame
with fair hair
to her shoulders
and dressed slightly better

than the rest
of there about
invited you
(with your mother’s

permission
and her gran’s invitation)
to tea after school
in the upstairs apartment

not far away
what did you want
for eats and drink?
Janice asked

bread and jam
you replied
bread and jam?
she repeated

as if you’d asked
for caviar on toast
no you must
have more than that

she said
Gran what’s for eats?
and her gran
came into the lounge

where the cosy furniture
was set out in place
neat and tidy
with a canary

in a cage
on a stand
and her gran related
a list of things

you could have
far exceeding
what you usually
had at home

cheese and cress
sandwiches
you said
please added on

as an afterthought
and Janice
had the same
to be like you

and her gran went off
and Janice said
she likes you
says you have more breeding

than some round here
o
you said
thanks

and you pushed
your hand
through your hair
and pulled

your school jumper
in place
and tightened
the tie

we’re going
to the fairground Saturday
will you come too?
you hesitated

and took in
her fair hair
and her fine features
and prim gaze

I’ll have to see
what my mum says
you uttered
o she won’t mind

Gran’s already
mentioned it I think
Janice said
well yes then

you said
I’d like that
she smiled
and spoke

of learning French
at school
and the teacher
who took her

for that and history
she’s a dear
and positively a beauty
I’ve got Ashdown

and she’s plump
and has an ****
like a hippo
you said

Janice choked
and sputtered
with laughter
all at the same time

that’s so rude
she said
putting her small hand
to her mouth

gosh don’t let Gran
hear to speak like that
or you’ll be off
her good boy list

as swift as lightening
you sat bemused
when her gran came in
with two plates

of sandwiches
what’s so funny?
she asked
putting the plates

on the table
o nothing much
Janice said
Benedict told me

a little joke
o well as long
as it wasn’t rude
Gran said

o no
Janice said
and looked at you
o no

you muttered
just a innocent joke
from school
her gran went off

to get the drinks
if Gran heard me
say thinks like that
she’d tan my backside

and no mistake
Janice took a bite
of her sandwich
and you ate yours

listening to the canary
sing and the bell it
rung inside the cage
and her gran singing

from the kitchen
in a soprano voice
and you took in
Janice’s light blue eyes

wherein you thought
but did not say
some good part
of beauty lies.
Terry Collett Aug 2013
After Friday school
after two boring lessons
with Mr Finn
you went home

with Janice for tea
and to see
her gran's new canary
and she told you

the blue one
had died
and her gran
had bought

a new one
and you told her
about the Ivanhoe book
you'd bought

out of your pocket money
about this Saxon
and King Richard 1
and you said

your old man
had made you a sword
out of metal
at his work place

and painted it blue
and you wore it
through your elastic belt
with the snake buckle

and she listened politely
as she always did
even if she was bored
which she probably was

and when you got
to her gran's place
she took you in
and her gran said

glad you could come
I saw your mother
the other day
and she said it was ok

for you to come
and Janice showed you
the new canary
in the cage

hanging from the holder
over by the window
and she asked her gran
if she could get

the bird out
and her gran said
she could but be careful
it don't fly away

and so Janice let
the canary out
of the cage
and it flew around

the room a few times
then settled on
her red beret
and started pecking

at it
what's the bird called?
you asked
Gran's started calling it yellow

Janice said
because its colour
is yellow
you watched the bird

pecking at her beret
and her eyes looked upwards
and she held out a finger
and the bird flew down on it

and perched there
and she stroked its beak
and then after a while
she put it back

in its cage  
and shut the door
and her gran said
what would you like for tea?

and you said
bread and jam
would be fine
and a mug of tea

to go with it
and her gran said
is that all?
nothing cooked?

Janice said she was having
scrambled egg on toast
and some rice pudding
for afterwards

and so you said
ok that sounded good
and her gran went off
and you sat with Janice

and she turned on the radio
and listened
to some classical music
which bored the hell

out of you
but at least
you were with Janice
and she smiled

and looked at you
all kind of seriously
and you liked her red beret
and her white blouse

and grey skirt
and her fair hair
touching her shoulders
and her thin fingers

reaching out
and touching your
slightly ink-stained ones
and she talked

of the names
of the children
she was going to have
when she grew up

and how many
boys and girls
she was going to have
and you nodded

and took nothing in
except the beauty
of her lips as she spoke
and her gran called

from the kitchen
lay the table ready Janice
and she got up
leaving your fingers

to tingle
which you guessed
was nice.
“Have you seen the chicichita?
I have waited hours to meet her.
I’ve been lurking in the wood
And truly, truly, mean no good.
I am hid behind this tree
Hoping that she won’t see me;
Her Mom will send her to see Gran
And I will catch her if I can!
I know she’ll have to pass this way;
So now I’m here, it’s here I’ll stay.
My teeth are sharp, clean and shining;
It will be no good her whining.
We are miles from Granny’s house,
Where it’s quiet as a mouse.
She can run and scream and shout
There will be no one about.
I think today I’m on a winner;
I’m going to eat her for my dinner.
Here she comes all dressed in red
With her hood upon her head.
Wait a minute, if I can,
I’ll go with her to visit Gran.
Then when my day’s works complete
There’ll be two of them to eat.”
“Where you off to on your own?
Don’t you feel unsafe alone?”
“I am off to visit Gran.”
“Well I’ll escort you if I can?”
“No!  You can’t!  I’m in a rush!”
She knocked him over with one push.
He followed her but had a trip;
That’s when the girl gave him the slip.
At Gran’s cottage, she was smiling, but
The Wolf had made a smart short-cut.
He was waiting in Gran’s bed
With the covers pulled about his head.
Gran was tied-up out of sight;
Following her awful fright!
The girl cried out. Good God, Oh Grief!
Twas then she’d seen the eyes and teeth.
This was not Gran; she was undone,
It looked as if the Wolf had won!
“Where is Gran?”  She screamed and cried;
Believing that her Gran had died!
Now she was terrified and scared
But in the woods someone had heard.
In he dashed, with chopper waving
Knowing Wolf was misbehaving.
The Cutter chased him round the bed
Threatening to chop-off his head!
Wolf realized he’d lost the fight
And off he ran into the night!
In the cupboard, they found Gran;
Red Riding Hood then thanked the man.
His arrival, just in time
Means a happy-ending to this rhyme!
Amado Nervo  Jun 2017
Ingenua
Yo tuve una prima
como un lirio bella,
como un mirlo alegre,
como un alba fresca,
rubia como una
mañana abrileña.   Amaba los versos aquella rapaza
con predilecciones a su edad ajenas.
La música augusta del rtimo cantaba
dentro de su espíritu como ignota orquesta;
todo lo que un astro le dice a otro astro,
todo lo que el cielo le dice a la tierra,
todo lo que el alma pregunta a la Esfinge,
todo lo que al alma la Esfinge contesta.   Pobre prima rubia,
pobre prima buena;
hace muchos años que duerme ese sueño
del que ni los pájaros, alegres como ella,
ni el viento que pasa, ni el agua que corre,
ni el sol que derrocha vida, la recuerdan.   Yo suelo, en los días
de la primavera,
llevar a su tumba
versos y violetas;
versos y violetas, ¡lo que más amaba!   En torno a su losa riego las primeras,
luego las estrofas recito que antaño
su deleite eran:
las más pensativas, las más misteriosas,
las más insinuantes, las que son más tiernas;
las que en sus pestañas, como en blonda de oro,
ponían las joyas de lágrimas, trémulas,
con diafanudades de beril hialino
y oriente de perlas.
  Se las digo bajo, bajito, inclinándome
hacia donde yace, por que las entienda.
Pobre prima rubia, ¡pero no responde!
Pobre prima rubia, ¡pero no despierta!   Cierto día, una joven condiscípula,
con mucho sigilo le prestó en la escuela
un libro de versos musicales, hondos.
¡Eran los divinos versos de Espronceda!   Se los llevó a casa bajo el chal ocultos,
y los escondimos, con sutil cautela,
del padre y la madre, y hasta de su sombra;
de la anciana tía, devota e ingenua,
que sólo gustaba de jaculatorias
y sólo entendía los versos de Trueba.   En aquellas tardes embermejecidas
por conflagraciones de luz, en que bregan
gigánticamente monstruos imprecisos
del Apocalipsis o de las leyendas;
de aquellas tardes que fingen catástrofes;
en aquellas tardes en que el iris vuelca
todos sus colores, en que el sol vacía
toda su escarcela;
en aquellas tardes del trópico, juntos
los dos, en discreto rincón de la huerta,
bajo de la trémula hospitalidad
de nuestras palmeras,
a furto de extraños, vibrantes leíamos
el Canto a Teresa.   ¡Qué revelaciones nos hizo ese canto!
Todas las angustias, todas las tristezas,
todo lo insondable del amor, y todo
lo desesperante de las infidencias:
todo el doloroso mundo que gravita
sobre el alma esclava que amó quimeras,
del que puso estrellas en la frente amada,
y al tornar a casa ya no encontró estrellas.   Todo el ansia loca de adorar en vano
tan sólo a una sombra, tan sólo a una muerta;
todos los despechos y las ironías
del que se revuelca
en zarzal de dudas y de escepticismos;
todos los sarcasmos y las impotencias.   Y después, aquellas ágiles canciones
de prosodia alada, de gracia ligera,
que apenas si tocan el polvo del mundo
con la orla de oro del brial de seda;
que, como el albatros, se duermen volando
que, como el albatros, volando despiertan:
  La ideal canción del bravo Pirata
que iba viento en popa, que iba a toda vela,
y a quien por los mares nuestros pensamientos,
como dos gaviotas, seguían de cerca;   Y la del Mendigo, cínico y osado,
y la del Cosaco del Desierto, bélica,
bárbara, erizada de ferrados hurras,
que al oído suenan
como los tropeles de potros indómitos
con jinetes rubios, sobre las estepas...   Pasaba don Félix, el de Montemar,
con una aureola roja en su cabeza,
satánico, altivo; luego, doña Elvira,
«que murió de amor», en lirios envuelta.
¡Con cuántos prestigios de la fantasía
ante nuestros ojos se alejaba tétrica!   Y el Reo de muerte que el fatal instante,
frente a un crucifijo, silencioso espera;
y aquella Jarifa, cuya mano pálida
la frente ardorosa del bardo refresca.
  Poco de su Diablo Mundo comprendíamos;
pero adivinábamos, como entre una niebla,
símbolos enormes y filosofías
que su Adán desnudo se llevaba a cuestas   ¡Oh mi gran poeta de los ojos negros!,
¡oh mi gran poeta de la gran melena!,
¡oh mi gran poeta de la frente vasta
cual limpio horizonte!, ¡oh mi gran poeta!   Te debo las horas más inolvidables;
y un día leyendo tu Canto a Teresa.,
muy juntos los ojos, muy juntos los labios,
te debí también, cual Paolo a Francesca,
un beso, el más grande que he dado en mi vida;
un beso, más dulce que miel sobre hojuelas;
¡un beso florido que envolvió en perfumes
toda mi existencia!   Un beso que, siento, eternizaría
del duro Gianciotti la daga violenta,
para que en la turba de almas infernales,
como en la terrible página dantesca,
fuera resonando por los anchos limbos,
fuera restallando por la noche inmensa,
y uniendo por siempre mi boca golosa
con la boca de ella!   ¡Oh, mi gran poeta de los ojos negros!
¡Quién hubiera dicho que yo te trajera,
como pobre pago de los inefables
éxtasis de entonces, esta humilde ofrenda!...
¡Oh, gallardo príncipe de la poesía!
Pero tú recíbela con la gentileza
de un Midas que en oro todo lo transmuta;
en claros diamantes mi abalorio trueca,
y en los viles cobres de mis estrofillas,
para acaudalarlos, engasta tus gemas.
Así tu memoria por los siglos dure,
¡oh, mi gran poeta de la gran melena!,
¡oh, mi gran poeta de los ojos negros!
¡oh, mi gran poeta!
¡Vamos hacia el infierno!

El grito suena bien  en el vientre de la cueva,
el salmo bajo el mediodía de los templos
y la canción en el crepúsculo...
El grito es el primero.

Hay un turno de voces:
yo grito,
tú rezas,
él canta...
El grito es el primero.

Y hay un turno de bridas:
él las lleva,
tú las llevas,
yo las llevo.
Y a la hora de las sombras subterráneas
la blasfemia reclama sus derechos.

Los caballos piafan ya enganchados y la carroza aguarda...
¿Quién la lleva? Yo: el blasfemo.
Yo la llevo, yo llevo hoy la carroza,
yo la llevo.

Este es el poeta,
tú eres el salmista,
ése es el que llora,  
tú eres el que grita...
yo soy el blasfemo.
Yo la llevo. Yo llevo hoy la carroza,
yo la llevo.

¡Arriba! ¡Subid todos!
¡Vamos hacia el infierno!
La aijada tiene su ritmo,
y la tralla,
y el frito,
y el aullido...
y la blasfemia del cochero.
¡Arre! ¡Arre!

¡Músicos,
poetas y salmistas;
obispos y guerreros!...
Voy a cantar.

Vida mía, vida mía,
¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!
Vida mía, vida mía,
tengo un ojo pitañoso
y el otro con ictericia.
Vida mía, vida mía,
¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!

Esta es mi copla, la copla de mi carne,
la copla de mi cuerpo.
Mas si mis ojos están sucios
los vuestros están ciegos.

¡Músicos,
poetas y salmistas;
obispos y guerreros!...
Voy a cantar otra vez.
El viejo rey de Castilla
¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!
El viejo rey de Castilla
tiene una pierna leprosa
y la otra sifilítica.
El viejo rey de Castilla
¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!

Esta es la copla de mi tierra,
la copla de mi reino.
Mas si mi reino está podrido
su espíritu es eterno.

¡Músicos,
poetas y salmistas;
obispos y guerreros!...
Llevadme de nuevo el compás.

En los cuernos de la mitra
¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!
En los cuernos de la mitra
hay una plegaria verde
y otra plegaria amarilla.
En los cuernos de la mitra
¡Ay! ¡Ay! ¡Ay!

Esta es la copla de mi alma,
de mi alma sin templo
porque la bestia negra apocalíptica,
lo ha llenado de estiércol.

Tres veces cantó el gallo,
tres veces negó Pedro,
tres veces canto yo:
por mi carne,
por mi patria
y por mi templo...
Por todo lo que tuve
y ya no tengo...

Vamos bien,
no hemos errado el sendero.
Conjugad otra vez:
este es el poeta,
tú eres el salmista,
ese es el que llora,
tú eres el que grita.
Yo soy el blasfemo...
¿Y el sabio? ¿Donde está el sabio? ¡Eh, tú!

Tú que sabes lo que pesan las piedras y lo que corre el viento...
¿Cuál es la velocidad de las tinieblas y la dureza del silencio?
¿No contestas?... Pues las bridas son mías.
Yo la llevo, yo llevo hoy la carroza,
yo la llevo.

Músicos, sabios,
poetas y salmistas,
obispos y guerreros...
Dejadme todavía preguntar:
¿Quién ha roto la luna del espejo?
¿Quién ha sido?
¿La piedra de la huelga,
la pistola del gangster,
o el tapón del champaña que disparó el banquero?
¿Quién ha sido?
¿El canto rodado del poeta,
el reculón del sabio,
o el empujón del necio?
¿Quién ha sido,
la vara del juez,
el báculo
o el cetro?
¿Quién ha sido?
¿Nadie sabe quién ha sido?
Pues las bridas son mías. ¡Adelante!
¡Arre! ¡Arre!... ¡Vamos hacia el infierno!

Y para hacer más corta la jornada
ahora cantaremos en coro, y cantaremos las coplas del Gran Conserje Pedro.
Yo llevaré la voz cantante y vosotros el estribillo
con lúgubre ritmo de allegreto.Vino la guerra.
Y para hacer obuses y torpedos
los soldados iban recogiendo
todos los hierros viejos de la ciudad.
Y Pedro, el Gran Conserje Pedro,
le dijo a un soldado: Tomad esto...
Y le dio las llaves del templo.Pedro, Pedro...
El Gran Conserje Pedro
que ha vendido las llaves del templo.Pedro...
Te dijo el Señor de los Olivos
cuando heriste con tu espada al siervo:
Mete esa espada en la vaina,
que yo sé a lo que vengo.
Y la metiste... con las cajas de caudales en el templo.Pedro, Pedro,
el Gran Conserje Pedro,
amigo de soldados y banqueros.Y ahora tenemos que ir al cielo
dando un gran rodeo
por el camino del infierno,
cavando un largo túnel en el suelo
y preguntando a las raíces y a los topos,
por qué ya no hay campanas ni espadañas, Pedro,
y los pájaros... todos tus pájaros se han muerto.¡Pedro, Pedro,
todos tus pájaros se han muerto!

Sin embargo, señores, yo no soy un escéptico
y hay unas cuantas cosas en que creo.
Por ejemplo, creo en el Sol, en el Diluvio y en el estiércol;
en la blasfemia, en las lágrimas y en el infierno;
en la guadaña y en el Viento;
en el lagar, en la piedra redonda del amolador
y en la piedra redonda del viejo molinero;
y en el hacha que derriba los árboles
y descuartiza los salmos y los versos;
en la locura y en el sueño...
y en el gas de la fiebre también creo,
en ese gas ingrávido, expansivo y etéreo,
antifilosófico, antidogmático y antidialéctico
que revienta los globos... los grandes globos, los globitos
y el cerebro.

Y creo
que hay luz en el rito,
luz en el culto
y luz en el misterio.

Creo
que el agua se hace vino,
y sangre el vino,
sangre de Dios y sangre de mi cuerpo.

Creo
que el trigo se hace harina
y carne la harina...
carne de Dios y carne de mi cuerpo.

Creo
que un hombre honrado
cuando nos da su pan
tiene el cuerpo de Cristo entre los dedos.

Y creo
que en el cáliz y en la hostia
hoy no hay más que babas del Gran Conserje Pedro.
Este es mi credo,
y pronto será el vuestro.
Ya lo iréis aprendiendo.

Con él entraremos
por la puerta norte y saldremos
por el postigo del infierno.
El infierno no es un fin, es un medio...
(Nos salvaremos por el fuego).
Y no es un fuego eterno.
Pero es, como las lágrimas, un elevado precio
que hay que pagarle a Dios, sin bulas ni descuentos,
para entrar en el reino de la luz,
en el reino de los hombres, en el reino de los héroes,
en el reino
que vosotros habéis llamado siempre el reino beatífico del cielo.
¡Vamos allá!

¿Estamos todos? Hagamos el último recuento:
Este es el salmista, el que deshizo el salmo
cuando dijo con ira y sin consejo:
"Tú eres el Dios que venga mis agravios
y sujeta debajo de mí, pueblos".
Y este es el poeta luciferino,
el que inventó el poema
esterilizado y antiséptico
y guardó en autoclaves la canción,
puritano, orgulloso y fariseo.
¡Oh, puristas y estetas!
Aún no está limpio vuestro verso
y su última escoria ha de dejarla
en los crisoles del infierno.
Aquí van los artistas sodomitas,
los pintores bizcos y los poetas inversos.
(No lloréis. Pero no digáis tampoco
que la Luz y el Amor se ven mejor torciendo
la mirada
y el ****.
Ni llanto ni ufanía. Vamos al gran taller,
a la gran fragua donde se enderezan los entuertos).
Aquél es el que grita, el hombre de la furia,
y aquél otro el que llora, el hombre del lamento.
Allá va el rey leproso y sifilítico,
este es el bobo intrépido
y este es el sabio tímido,
cargado de tarjetas y de miedo:
ni para decir e pur si mouve
le ha quedado resuello.

Aquí van el juez y el gangster
los dos juntos en el mismo verso.
Este es el Presidente demócrata y guerrero
que desnudó la espada en el verano
y debió desnudarla en el invierno.
(¡Ay del que se armó tan sólo
para defender su granero,
y no se armó para defender
el pan de todos primero!
¡Ay, del que dice todavía:
nos proponemos conservar lo nuestro!)
Allí va el demagogo,
aquél es el banquero,
estos son los cristianos
(Que ahora se llaman los "cristeros")
Y este es el hombre de la mitra,
la bestia de dos cuernos,
el que vendió las llaves...
el Gran Conserje Pedro.¡Aquí van todos!
Y aquí voy yo con ellos.
Aquí voy yo también, yo, el hombre de la tralla,
el de los ojos sucios... el blasfemo.


ahora ya sin hogar y sin reino,
sin canción y sin salmo,
sin llaves y sin templo...
yo la llevo, yo llevo hoy la carroza,
yo la llevo.

Se va del salmo al llanto,
del llanto al grito,
del grito al veneno...
¡Arre! ¡Arre!
¡Y se gana la luz desde el infierno!

— The End —