RESTORATION Poem by José Zuleta Ortiz

for Horacio Benavides
Ships in which days travel

fire on which days are cooked

mild season

shelter of open spaces

in its restored light

words flower


On fresh tiles

new steps go by

the domestic breeze on the patio

entertains the afternoon

in man are
the rice footsteps of the ring dove

the boy's hands
are made of music

Pablo's voice knows
the bright red skirting

and the whitewashed upper part.


The house, mild season

of serene hours

of things forgotten and of brightness

of late arrivals . . .

reason wavers
morning harbours ravings

maybe it will stop raining in the afternoon

maybe the sun will sprinkle the flowers,

back there
someone sings,
the empty cage

a frightened shadow

in one's breast

a heart touches the silk.