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Martín Espada
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The Republic of Poetry
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For
Chile
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In the republic
of poetry,
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a train full of
poets
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rolls south in
the rain
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as plum trees
rock
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and horses kick
the air,
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and village bands
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parade down the
aisle
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with trumpets,
with bowler hats,
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followed by the
president
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of the republic,
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shaking every
hand.
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-
In the republic
of poetry,
-
monks print
verses about the night
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on boxes of
monastery chocolate,
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kitchens in
restaurants
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use odes for
recipes
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from eel to
artichoke,
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and poets eat for
free.
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In the republic
of poetry,
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poets read to the
baboons
-
at the zoo, and
all the primates,
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poets and baboons
alike, scream for joy.
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In the republic
of poetry,
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poets rent a
helicopter
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to bombard the
national palace
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with poems on
bookmarks,
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and everyone in
the courtyard
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rushes to grab a
poem
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fluttering from
the sky,
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blinded by
weeping.
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In the republic
of poetry,
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the guard at the
airport
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will not allow
you to leave the country
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until you declaim
a poem for her
-
and she says
Ah! Beautiful.
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from
The Republic of Poetry |
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