Nicanor Parra (1914-2018) was a Chilean poet, mathematician and physicist, whose work has had a profound influence on Hispano-American literature. Considered the creator of anti-poetry, for many critics and authors, such as Harold Bloom, Niall Binns and Roberto Bolaño, he is one of the West's greatest poets.
He was awarded many prizes, including the National Literature Prize (1969) and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize (2011). His work has been translated into numerous languages, including English, French, Swedish, Russian, Czech, Finnish and Portuguese.
Among his English-language translators are renowned writers, such as Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, William Carlos Williams, Thomas Merton, Denise Levertov and W.S. Merwin, among others.
"It’s entirely clear that Nicanor Parra is one of the great names of the literature in our language." Pablo Neruda
“Nicanor Parra over everyone else.” Roberto Bolaño“If you expect the staid reflections of an elder poet, you’ve come to the wrong book. Parra is as vital, and funny, and confounding as ever.” Edith Grossman
Antes de despedirme
Tengo derecho a un último deseo:
Generoso lector
quema este libro
No representa lo que quise decir
A pesar de que fue escrito con sangre
No representa lo que quise decir.
Mi situación no puede ser más triste
Fui derrotado por mi propia sombra:
Las palabras se vengaron de mí.
Perdóname lector
Amistoso lector
Que no me pueda despedir de ti
Con un abrazo fiel:
Me despido de ti
con una triste sonrisa forzada.
Puede que yo no sea más que eso
pero oye mi última palabra:
Me retracto de todo lo dicho.
Con la mayor amargura del mundo
Me retracto de todo lo que he dicho.
(Me retracto de todo lo dicho)
Before I go
I'm supposed to get a last wish:
Generous reader
burn this book
It's not at all what I wanted to say
Though it was written in blood
It's not what I wanted to say.
No lot could be sadder than mine
I was defeated by my own shadow:
My words took vengeance on me.
Forgive me, reader, good reader
If I cannot leave you
With a warm embrace. I leave you
With a forced and sad smile.
Maybe that's all I am
But listen to my last word:
I take back everything I`ve said.
With the greatest bitterness in the world
I take back everything I`ve said.
(Translated by Miller Williams)