Poetry by León Felipe: Dialogue Between the Poet and Death (Diálogo entre el poeta y la muerte)
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Thanatos – daemon personification of death in
Greek Mythology. Sculptured marble column drum from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos.
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Here’s another León Felipe poem from his collection Ganarás La Luz. Look out for notes of John Donne’s “Death be not proud”.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE POET AND DEATH
Poet- Oh, death! I know you’re already there. Please have some patience.
Death- It’s three o’clock. Shall we leave when the stars fade, the roosters crow, the first light sounds its trumpet from the mountain range and the sun opens a crimson crack between heaven and earth?
Poet- Not when you say so, nor when I want to.
I’ve come to write my testimony. When I have written my last blasphemy my pen will fall, my inkwell will break without being touched, causing ink will pour and, without you pushing it,
The door will open wide.
Then we will leave. Meanwhile…
hang your scythe with my walking stick on the coat rack
in the aisle and sit down… sit down and wait!
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