Sunday, October 02, 2005

The Rancid Prince (Compadrito) of Darkness Dances the Tango with the Intaglio (Milonguero) of Light

Salimos a bailar? = Shall we dance?

Could feel his moustache on my hibiscus breast (we were born in mystery)
Glimpsed black wiry hairs sprouting up between
sock and shin (dance is braiding and shearing)

The mountains slid backwards (the house became huge)
The mud-colored leaves swirled up like bee clouds (his shoe caresses)

Around our prancing forms’ (eagles in flight)
Mad backwards spread (birds falling)

Caminar = Fluid Walk

For starters, he hissed, I will give you (thin wings, fragile animals)
An everlasting lamp, made of a winter (the destiny of stars)

Morning that will never fade, shot through and through (tapestries of ice)
With silver, gold and blue:
a living bauble made by a god or two. . . (witnesses of night)

I felt his lacey shirt cuffs (understood the futility of food)
Graze my waist (the enormity of the map of the world)

Media Vuelta = Half-Turn

He was saying as if living was just one more (blue perilous sky)
Way to stop the pain (the necessity of inhabiting words)

Or at least a way to try to keep it away, at bay,(of shaping the night with verse)
Like using a stick to wrench a wild animal’s(no matter what it cost or who it hurt)

Jaws apart, just like so many trappings (he liked me for my spine)
Of art we rip and save and tape (cracked songs lost transmissions old loop plays)

Salida Cruzada = Beginning of a Cross Pattern

All to delude ourselves (hungry glass continents)
That art is something more. . . (irresistible lips in bliss)

And next, I’ll marry your hump-backed sister (deary fuzzy fawn in shaded wood)
To a faithful farmer-bandit (revolutionary zeal)

And give you five gold coins as bright as suns (stunning weather reports)
That will become whatever you imagine. . . (horizon-melt)

Desplazamiento = Displacement of Partner’s Foot or Leg

And what do I have to do, I murmered (bad laugh track sitcom hell)
Lost in the winter lamp revolving at our feet (the hour glass that never runs out)

Merely marry my shadow (the one you’ve always known)
And he opened his cloak (course of adrenaline fear)

I saw a shadow of gold, lit from within (hope begets glade)
Cold and harder than any stone (the polished thing)

Sentada = Sitting Action

As far beyond earth’s fragrant touch (narcissus bloom)
As a long-dead fossil, and thought (mirror crust)

It wouldn’t be so bad (sin spotting scope)
Caring for what’s worse than a corpse (ruined cherished fractals)

In trade for wonder (philosophic wax)
Embracing a grave (smooth deep glossy sheen)

Boleo = Throw

But stop right there, I said, wheeling (make me a wonder)
I think I remember how this kind of thing ends (haunted by the parade)

As our reflections parted and joined (dark mossy rope)
Like some clothed vessel and he (the emerging frame)

Said don’t think about that (sweep away the thoughts you can’t stand)
It’s not where you belong (lone bauble in waves)

Dibujo = Drawing Circles on the Floor With One’s Toe

Poetry can’t live alone (dance, one-legged doll)
It needs the dark corners (basement psychology)

Feeding its ravenous spider-mind (creep of vermin)
With worms from down deep whispered endearments)

I’ve been shot, stabbed, beheaded and slashed (his faith)
And never felt a thing (her need)

Llevada = Transport by Sweeping the Partner’s Foot

For 3,000 years I was a crow (black flutter of night)
Just watching and learning (perhaps you were my bone)

And our reflections flew apart (unions betrayed)
Then were soldered in one fleeting, flaming tool (alchemy of lust)


He flashed the map of secret routes that would (you too can be a star)
Make me young (you can play the role better than most)

Firulete = Skillful Adornment

I could feel it in my heartbeat (no easy answers)
Part of me already belonging to him (purse clasp and knee click)

From the moment I had skin. (flaying has its)
There is danger in the kind of pleasure (underground allures)

That twirls you round (lasso-style)
With champagne veins. (high, high, highest)

Enganche = Partner Wraps Leg Around Other’s Leg

I saw the dark velvet tunnels, caverns of stars (crush)
Blue underground lakes (Elysia)

We made it look effortless, like blown glass (breathing)
Though our complicated dance cost us our lives (toll pass consequence)

You are the etchings on the moon – (in my black dress)
Cool, lovely, distinct, distant. (I was his living shadow, his relief)

Amague = Threatening Noise/Embellishment

I tried to bite down HARD on my angry salvation (steamroller Blues)
But couldn’t stay focused (fabric of magic)

It kept slithering back (herding theories)
Into the ocean of will (photos change over time)

The only catch – barely a ripple – (windsurfer swallowed by wave)
Is your inspiration will run dry, drop and stop (headline truth stratosphere beat)

Mordida = The Foot of One Partner is Trapped
Between the Two Feet of the Other


In a world (perspiration)
Screaming with excess (lifelike plastic blossoms)

Dark days ruffled grays (open doorways of decay)
Beat a cool din in my fevered ears (the C Sharp of the color Red)

You will live in inspiration (he couldn’t help roaming)
And not feel a thing (a frozen moment that stirred my soul)

Quebrada = The Woman Stands One Foot, Hanging Against the Man

The night is hungry he hissed (desire trumps lucidity)
Pressing the small of my back (fear trumps guilt)

He swept away the light within his cloak (shield the moment)
And drove us across the room (one day to save the world!)

We fluttered into each other (love swallows creative mania)
Like a perfect match (mercenaries of poems)

Lustrada = The Woman Strokes Her Partner’s Pant Leg With Her Shoe

Scent of pomegranete (illusory potions)
His ice-thin hand, special in mine (he is too vulnerable too)

The earth heaving and sighing (an ageless mordant grace)
And rolling over nations (music please)

As light as slippers (we glide together through)
We waltzed (reflections only I can see)

Cadena = Complex Turning Figure of Enchainment


Gloss

Compadrito – Ruffian; inventor of the tango

Milonguero – Tango fanatic whose life revolves around tango and who embodies the essence of tango.

Salimos a bailar? – “Shall we dance on the dance floor?”

Caminar – Balanced, fluid walk

Media Vuelta – Half-turn done when man’s right foot and woman’s left foot are free

Salida Cruzada – Beginning of a pattern with a cross.

Desplazamiento – Displacement of partner’s foot or leg using one’s foot or leg.

Sentada – Sitting action.

Boleo – To throw.

Dibujo – Drawing circles or movements on the floor with one’s toe.

Llevada – To transport; one partner’s foot sweeps the other’s foot.

Firulete = Complicated or syncopated movements used to demonstrate skill and interpret music.

Enganche – Hooking or coupling; one partner wraps leg around the other’s leg.

Amague – Make a threatening motion as an embellishment.

Mordida – The foot of one partner is trapped or sandwiched between the two feet of the other partner.

Quebrada – The woman stands on one foot, hanging with all her weight against the man.

Cadena – Complex, theatrical, rapid turning figure evoking a chain or enchainment.

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