RÍO SUCHIATE

Acuarela de José Díaz titulada Río Suchiate, la cual describió en estos términos:

"Cruce de personas —y de mercancías—de Guatemala hacia México sobre balsas construidas a partir de cámaras de llantas de camión infladas y tablones amarrados, a unos metros de la aduana." 

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Watercolor by José Díaz titled Río Suchiate, about which the artist wrote:

"River-crossing of people --and merchandise--from Guatemala to Mexico on rafts built from inflated inner tubes of truck tyres and boards strung together, a few yards away from the border customs checkpoint."

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Este poema ecfrásico en inglés está basado en la imagen presentada, ambos incluidos en el volumen Écfrasis, publicado por el CECUT (Centro Cultural Tijuana) (2a. ed. 2019).

"Umberto Eco considera que «cuando un texto verbal describe una obra de arte visual, la tradición clásica habla de écfrasis»" (tomado del epígrafe al volumen).

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"The ekphrasic poem in English quoted below is based on the above image, and both are included in Écfrasis, published by the CECUT (Centro Cultural Tijuana) (2nd ed. 2019).

"Umberto Eco considers that «when a verbal text describes a visual work of art, this is referred to as ekphrasis in classic tradition»" (from the volume's epigraph). 

SUCHIATE RIVER

We think of rivers as peaceful flow, yet they become borders

when geography and politics find unnatural agreements;

south, the watermark is poverty, riches for the plundering.

This man muscles the boat tow along the rippling Suchiate,

south of Mexico, international travelling on strung planks

inflatable devices envisioned out of creative need.

Women, men and children cross the river

as do dogs, bundles, guns, drugs, fruit, 

vegetables, drinkable water in plastic bags.

An open song throated by the waterman 

as he wades tugging a family on board 

muscles blown from the effort; 

beans, rice and tortillas fill his stomach 

as do hunger dreams.

Daily he moves his thighs through water, tugging 

at his heart that lurches at every step, at every pull.

His feet find the stones, the water finds his arms.

Today not many want to cross when danger slithers 

serpent fears into the river’s murky waters.

Claire Joysmith