Seven Days of Poestry

Surprise!  My good friend Lena Retamoso and I are teaming up to do a week's worth of posts.  Lena is an incredible poet and will be choosing poetry based on the songs I pick (I'm quite honored!!).  You can check out some of her poetry and other musings on her website (it helps if you habla español).  Also, I'll be putting links with information about the poems in the comment section of each post.  So without further ado, I hereby revive Pongo and Perdita for one more week!  Hope you enjoy!!

Jens Lekman - New Directions (2011: An Argument With Myself)

“…

In the end

We are only left with tomorrow.

I raise my glass

To the day that never arrives.

But that is all

we have at our disposal.”

By Nicanor Parra (Chile, 1914)

From the poem: The Last Toast (Translated by Miller Williams)

The Kinks - I Am Free (1965: The Kink Kontroversy)

“…And I love the thousands of men within me that are born and die each instant and do not live at all…”

By Martín Adán (Peru, 1908-1985)

From the book: The Cardboard House (Translated by Katherine Silver)