Essential symptomatology of an exile
Alberto Quero
self-translated from Spanish by the poet

Although it is fragmentary,
every exile is continuous and leaves perceptible outcomes
on the concerned person's face:
even if it may happen quite slowly,
said face becomes opaque and drowsy.
The next symptom attacks the memory,
which begins to fade.
It is important to note if reminiscences come on their own
or with a guest
in which case, the risk of flare-ups,
confusion
and unexpected homesickness
increases dramatically.
 
Studies show that, unintentionally,
the patient often comes to the following conclusion:
among all the possible banishments,
there was one, and only one,
that was intended for him
and it became his own,
a kind of anxiety that can only be the result of facing the most diverse dragons.
The evidence collected in situ suggests that the feet usually swell
by dint of travelling uncertain paths,
and that the ears get tired from hearing
so many lies,
which abound
and which they are told
in the bawdiest of ways.
 
To date,
there is no known cure,
but we recommend keeping the eyes open,
a radiant heart
and to feel able to reap a smile every day.
Each infected patient can even pray to the deity of their preference
and ask for another land,
different from his own,
because that one must surely be scorched
and full of crumbs.

Sintomatología esencial de un exilio
Alberto Quero


A pesar de lo fragmentario, todo exilio es continuo
y deja secuelas perceptibles sobre el rostro de la persona afectada:
aunque de modo muy paulatino,
ella se vuelve opaca y somnolienta.
El próximo síntoma ataca la memoria,
que comienza a desdibujarse:
hay que notar si los recuerdos vienen solos
o con algún invitado,
en cuyo caso aumentan considerablemente los riesgos de algazaras,
confusiones
y nostalgias inesperadas.



Los estudios muestran que,
sin quererlo,
el paciente suele llegar a la conclusión que sigue:
de entre todos los posibles destierros,
hubo uno
y solo uno,
que le estaba destinado
y se le ha vuelto propio,
una angustia que solo puede resultar
de haberse enfrentado a los más diversos dragones.
La evidencia recolectada in situ
sugiere que los pies suelen hincharse
de tanto recorrer caminos inciertos
y que los oídos se cansan de escuchar tanta mentira que abunda
y que es dicha de la manera más impúdica.
 
Hasta la fecha no existe cura conocida,
pero se recomienda conservar los ojos abiertos,
incluso a pesar de la constante inflamación de los lagrimales,
el corazón brillante
y sentirse capaz de cosechar diariamente
una sonrisa,
al menos una.
Incluso, cada paciente afectado pudiera orar a la divinidad de su preferencia
en favor de una tierra,
la suya,
seguramente calcinada
y llena de migajas.

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Alberto Quero is a poet, narrator and semiotician. He was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela and has always worked as a language professor. He holds a BA in Literature and Linguistics, a Masters in Literature and a Doctorate in Humanities (University of Zulia). Member of the Venezuelan Association of Semiotics, the International Writers, Association of Spain and the International Writers’ Parliament of Colombia. He has published six books of short stories, two collections of poems and several peer-reviewed papers about literature written in Spanish. His academic interests go from Medieval Peninsular Poetry to the Latin American ‘Boom’. He has received several literary awards and has been included in three dictionaries of Venezuelan writers. His works have appeared in a number of compilations, in Spanish, English and French. He is the Latin American journalist for Literary News, a radio show at CKCU 93.1, a FM station that belongs to Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada).

Alberto Quero, poeta, narrador y semiólogo. Nació en Maracaibo, Venezuela y siempre ha trabajado como profesor de idiomas. Es Licenciado en Literatura y Lingüística, Magíster en Literatura y Doctor en Humanidades (Universidad del Zulia). Miembro de la Asociación Venezolana de Semiótica, de la Asociación Internacional de Escritores de España y del Parlamento Internacional de Escritores de Colombia. Ha publicado seis libros de cuentos, dos colecciones de poemas y varios artículos arbitrados acerca literatura escrita en español. Sus intereses académicos van desde la poesía medieval peninsular hasta el 'boom' latinoamericano. Ha recibido varios premios literarios y ha sido incluido en tres diccionarios de escritores venezolanos. Sus obras han aparecido en varias recopilaciones, en español, inglés y francés.Es el periodista latinoamericano de Literary News, un programa de radio de CKCU 93.1, una estación de FM que pertenece a la Universidad de Carleton (Ottawa, Canadá).

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