H e a r t S o n s & H e a r t D a u g h t e r s of A l l e n G i n s b e r g

N a p a l m H e a l t h S p a : R e p o r t 2 0 1 4 : A r c h i v e s E d i t i o n

RON RODRIGUEZ

Candombe

––by Luis Pales Matos

The negroes dance, dance, dance,

Before the blazing fire.

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

Below the coconut grove, next to the surf,

Lewd ferocious teeth,

Bodies of mud and molasses,

Hanging bosoms, steaming armpits,

And dark brilliant eyes

Dazzled by the profound gong.

The negroes dance in the night.

Before the blazing fire.

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

Who is the strongest chief?

Who is the fairest maiden?

Where does the fiercest caiman sleep?

What kind of witchcraft has killed Babissa?

The sweaty negroes dance.

Before the blazing fire.

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

In the solitude of the island.

The moon is a silver turtle

Swimming in the tranquil night.

Who shall be the daring fisherman

Who brings the colorful catch in his net:

Sokola,Babiro,Bombassa,

Yombofre,Bulon or Babissa?

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

Look at the moon,the silver fish

The old maligned turtle

Throwing towards the water of the night

It’s juice that puts one to sleep and bewitches…

Seize the moon, seize the moon,

Imprison her with a fish hook.

The negroes dance in the night

Before the blazing fire.

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

(Translation by Ron Rodriguez)

Candombe

––by Luis Pales Matos

We have the teeth of the dingo,

Great Grandfather of the Great Babissa;

We have the teeth of the dingo

And a nail from the lizard…

Against everything bad they can,

Of everything they can immunize us.

We have the teeth of the dingo

And a nail from the lizard…

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

Manasa,Cumbalo,Bilongo,

Fish for this putrid moon

That poisons our night

With it’s stinking yellow light.

Fish for the moon, fish for the moon,

The pale monster that curses

Our house and our women

In the solitude of the island.

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

Brave negroes of the palm trees,

Come, Babissa waits for us,

The Great King of the Caiman and the Coconut,

Before the blazing fire.

Tum-cutum, tum-cutum,

Before the blazing fire.

(Translation by Ron Rodriguez)

[Originally published in NHS 2009, http://www.poetspath.com/napalm/nhs09/Ron_Rodriguez.htm.]