¿Sabes cuánto ocupa el hemisferio?
This poem intricately weaves themes of measurement and silence, exploring the emotional landscape of love and existence. The opening lines, "¿Sabes cuánto ocupa el hemisferio?" and "¿Y la verdad absoluta?" pose existential questions about the nature of reality and truth, setting a contemplative tone. The speaker's inquiry into the physical dimensions of their chest suggests a longing for intimacy, as they ponder the emotional weight of their experiences.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the act of sewing, using metaphors like "Le he clavado mis agujas" to illustrate the pain and permanence of their emotional investments. The imagery of measuring the void and the threads that sew the floor evokes a sense of confinement, as the speaker expresses a desire for love that must be whispered, indicating a struggle between longing and the constraints of their environment.
The emotional arc shifts as the speaker confronts the noise of the machine, which "grita cuando la pisan"—a metaphor for the cries of unacknowledged pain. This juxtaposition of the machine's scream with the desire for a soft kiss highlights the tension between harsh realities and tender moments. The poem culminates in a practical reflection on fabric measurements, yet the underlying emotional resonance remains potent, suggesting that even mundane tasks are imbued with deeper significance.
Crafted in free verse, the poem employs enjambment and vivid imagery to create a rhythm that mirrors the speaker's internal conflict. The use of silence as a motif emphasizes the need for quietude in expressing love, while the recurring theme of measurement serves as a metaphor for the speaker's quest for understanding and connection. Ultimately, the poem speaks to the complexities of love, existence, and the human experience, resonating with contemporary themes in Spanish poetry.
| Word | In Spanish | In English | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Sabes | Do you know | Are you aware | ¿Sabes |
| cuánto | how much | the amount | cuánto |
| ocupa | occupies | takes up space | ocupa |
| el | the | the definite article | el |
| hemisferio? | hemisphere? | half of a sphere? | hemisferio? |
| ¿Y | And | Also | ¿Y |
| la | the | the definite article | la |
| verdad | truth | fact or reality | verdad |
| absoluta? | absolute? | unquestionable? | absoluta? |
| ¿Has | Have you | Did you | ¿Has |
| terminado | finished | completed | terminado |
| de | of | belonging to | de |
| medir | measure | assess size | medir |
| ancho | width | extent from side to side | ancho |
| mi | my | belonging to me | mi |
| pecho? | chest? | front part of the body? | pecho? |
| Le | I | to him/her | Le |
| he | have | auxiliary verb | he |
| clavado | driven in | stuck in | clavado |
| mis | my | belonging to me | mis |
| agujas | needles | sharp tools for sewing | agujas |
| y | and | as well as | y |
| no | not | negation | no |
| ha | has | auxiliary verb | ha |
| aprendido | learned | gained knowledge | aprendido |
| a | to | towards | a |
| rechistar. | protest. | object or complain. | rechistar. |
| ¿Puedes | Can you | Are you able to | ¿Puedes |
| vacío | void | emptiness | vacío |
| que | that | which | que |
| llena | fills | occupies space | llena |
| esta | this | the one here | esta |
| sala? | room? | enclosed space? | sala? |
| los | the | the definite article (plural) | los |
| hilos | threads | strands of fabric | hilos |
| cosen | are sewn. | are stitched together. | cosen |
| suelo? | floor? | ground? | suelo? |
| Son | They are | They exist as | Son |
| cuatro | four | the number 4 | cuatro |
| pies, | feet, | units of measurement, | pies, |
| por | by | through | por |
| altura. | height. | vertical measurement. | altura. |
| Aquí | Here | In this place | Aquí |
| dentro | inside | within | dentro |
| solo | only | exclusively | solo |
| se | one | people in general | se |
| puede | can | is able to | puede |
| susurrar. | whisper. | speak softly. | susurrar. |
| Si | If | In case | Si |
| quiere | wants | desires | quiere |
| lo | him | referring to a male | lo |
| ame, | love, | have affection for, | ame, |
| tendré | I will have | I will need | tendré |
| hacerlo | do it | perform the action | hacerlo |
| en | in | inside | en |
| silencio. | silence. | quietness. | silencio. |
| La | The | the definite article | La |
| máquina | machine | mechanical device | máquina |
| del | of the | belonging to the | del |
| patio | yard | outdoor area | patio |
| grita | screams | shouts loudly | grita |
| cuando | when | at the time that | cuando |
| pisan. | step on. | tread upon. | pisan. |
| Como | As | In the manner of | Como |
| si | if | in case | si |
| estuviera | were | was in a state of | estuviera |
| pidiendo | asking for | requesting | pidiendo |
| socorro. | help. | assistance. | socorro. |
| quisiera | wanted | desired | quisiera |
| un | a | one | un |
| beso. | kiss. | a touch of lips. | beso. |
| Y | And | Also | Y |
| siguen | they keep | they continue | siguen |
| pisando. | stepping on. | treading upon. | pisando. |
| Así | This is how | In this manner | Así |
| las | the | the definite article (plural) | las |
| camisetas. | t-shirts. | casual shirts. | camisetas. |
| ¡Eso | That's | That is | ¡Eso |
| es! | it is! | this is! | es! |
| setenta | seventy | the number 70 | setenta |
| seis | six | the number 6 | seis |
| centímetros, | centimeters, | units of length, | centímetros, |
| siete | seven | the number 7 | siete |
| metros | meters | units of length | metros |
| tela | fabric | material for sewing | tela |
| blanca | white | color without hue | blanca |
| para | to | in order to | para |
| coser | sew | join with stitches | coser |
| cola | tail | the end part | cola |
| vestido. | dress. | garment for women. | vestido. |
| Todavía | Still | Yet | Todavía |
| puedo | I can | I am able to | puedo |
| besarles | kiss them | give them a kiss | besarles |
| pero | but | however | pero |
| me | myself | to me | me |
| prometo | promise | commit to | prometo |
| sea | it is | be | sea |
| rápido, | quick, | fast, | rápido, |
| suene | sounds | makes a noise | suene |
| bajito... | softly... | quietly... | bajito... |
| Tenemos | We have | We possess | Tenemos |
| tiempo | time | period | tiempo |
| justo | just | exactly | justo |
| hasta | until | up to | hasta |
| clavar | drive in | insert firmly | clavar |
| siguiente | next | following | siguiente |
| aguja, | needle, | sharp tool for sewing, | aguja, |
| termine | finish | complete | termine |
| suelo. | floor. | ground. | suelo. |
The poet remains anonymous, but the poem reflects contemporary themes in Spanish poetry, focusing on personal and existential questions.
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