Poetry

La Muerte, no sea orgullosa, aunque algunos le han llamado
Poderoso y terrible, usted no es;
Para ésos usted piensa derrocado,
No mueren, La Muerte pobre, ni con todo, es usted capaz de matarme.
De resto y de sueño, pero para sus cuadros sea,
Mucho placer;  entonces mucho más deben fluir,
Y pronto, nuestros mejores hombres van con usted,
Resto de huesos, y la entrega del alma.
Usted es un esclavo al sino, ocasión, reyes, y hombres desesperados,
Y estancia con el veneno, la guerra, y la enfermedad;
Y amapolas o encantos pueden hacernos sueño también,
Y mejore que su tacto; ¿tan porqué usted se hincha?
Un sueño corto más allá, despertamos eternamente,
Y la muerte estará no más;  La Muerte, usted morirá.

- apologías a John Donne 

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Thinking of the upcoming Halloween and Day of the Dead, and with some thoughts on health care (among other issues), I'm posting this original modern translation by incadove0 (from English to Spanish) - John Donne's classic, Death Be Not Proud.

translations

the united nations high commissioner of human rights - navanethem pillay - slams charest's bill 78 as anti-democratic.

“Moves to restrict freedom of assembly in many parts of the world are alarming,” she said.

“In the context of student protests, I am disappointed by the new legislation passed in Quebec that restricts their rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly.”

student protesters hailed the human rights commissioner's statement as just.  as the canadian press walked with demonstrators in yet another nightly march, julia dube, a student from mcgill university, responded to the journalist's questions, seemingly echoing the body of student sentiments:

"I hope the government will take this into consideration," she said.  "It's not surprising this has come up with the United Nations.  If this is the case, it just adds to the other scandals of this government.  If they want to win the next election, they should start listening to what people are saying."

more news, too, coming out on the electrifying rap concert attended by student leadership.  rebel youth magazine reports the described moment of silence as marking (instead) the death of democracy (though either way, via translation, this moment of silence works,) and has 2 more videos - one directly at their link, really capturing the described comparison to the wonderful stage production (i saw many, many years ago) along with the integration of demonstration chants, and another video, en route via the blog post, for front row experience with the earlier described rythmic pan clamor. 

superb!  though now we are talking about the real thing, n'est pas?  and why literature and theater moves us, to begin with.  in the here and now. 

this is what we call bringing the story home.

the student newspaper reports that the number also featured algonquin activist and rap performer, Samian.  loco locass said that the inclusion of samian

was not just to again join forces with this outstanding young artist but also showed that Aboriginal struggles and rights must be part of the Quebec perspective for sovereignty. Samian, who helped host last November's Aboriginal People's Music Awards, has preformed across Canada and internationally and recently become an outspoken voice against the Quebec government's Plan Nord and its impact on First Nations communities.

below, a youtube of samian's plan nord.