Sensemaya by Nicolás Guillén Poem Review
Sensemayá por Nicolás Guillén (Canto para matar a una culebra) or a Song to Kill a Snake Mayombe--bombe--mayombé! Mayombe—bombe--may...
http://phistars.blogspot.com/2012/08/sensemaya-by-nicolas-guillen-poem-review.html
Sensemayá por Nicolás Guillén
(Canto para matar a una culebra) or a Song to Kill a Snake
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
Mayombe—bombe--mayombé!
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
The snake has glassy eyes,
the snake comes and coils around the rod,
with her glassy eyes, on the rod,
with her glassy eyes.
the snake hides in the grass,
Walking she hides in the grass,
walking without legs.
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
Mayombe—bombe--mayombé!
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
You strike her with the ax, and she dies:
Strike her down,
Not with your foot, for she bites,
not with your foot, for she flies.
Sensemaya, the snake,
sensemayá.
Sensemayá, with her eyes,
sensemayá.
Sensemayá, with her tongue,
sensemayá.
Sensemayá, with her mouth
sensemayá...
A dead snake cannot eat;
A dead snake cannot hiss;
she cannot walk,
she cannot run!
A dead snake cannot watch,
A dead snake cannot drink,
she cannot breathe,
she cannot bite!
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
Sensemaya, the snake...
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
Sensemaya, does not move...
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
Sensemaya, the snake...
Mayombe--bombe--mayombé!
Sensemaya, has died...
Mayombe= region in africa
Bombe = ??
Sensemaya= yoruba water Goddess
killing the snake = kill time or boredom
Sensemaya by Nicolás Guillén Poem Review
On the surface, this poem is about killing a snake. You kill it with a stick. This poem was written by a Cuban poet. Its arrangement is like an African call and response yoruba ritual song. In Cuba, there are hardly any snakes, no poisonous animals. The fauna is quite dandy. Thus, when you kill a snake you kill time. Its basically a song about killing boredom. It has a lot of Santeria qualities. Almost like a spell... to kill boredom. In any case, this bizarre poem deserves 5 star rating.
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