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Poetry in the Cities of LiteraturePedro Gunnlaugur García

We continue our introduction to the poets of the Icelandic City of Literature — Reykjavík Bókmenntaborg UNESCO — and their translators.
Today we will listen to a poem by Pedro Gunnlaugur García, [Images from a Shaded Garden] ([Myndir úr myrkvðum garði].
Pedro Gunnlaugur García is an Icelandic writer, born in Lisbon in 1983. He is known for his sharp and introspective works, his use of magical realism, and his exploration of the complexities of human relationships. His novel Lungu (2022) received the Icelandic Literary Prize and has been translated into several languages.
Let’s listen to this wonderful poem performed by the author in Icelandic:


[Images from a Darkened Garden]Translated by Larissa Kyzer
come morning, it always continueswhat blooms—eyes, dewdrops and all their colorsdregs
the black night holds her lips togetherimpenetrable in her depths, she sends me stones
entanglements—out in the open, inexpressible  spring flowers that bloom on cliffsidesand wither, lay down their torchunmoved by the world
sunrise—heavy as leadand this darknesslight as a featherhope and night turn away from me
sunlight on a leaf seeking growtheverything’s spelled out on the page before meand the weather leaves remnants behind: animal skulls, sufferingmeasured in distances and pockets full of keysI have borrowed
my life, my beloved little dayrising without me in a different placewhile here remains the image of an embrace in a garden where all the lights are outand the stones are smoothsoftened by regret—here creeps inwhat once wasto wait


This project was created by the office of “Odessa — UNESCO City of Literature” and is being implemented with funds collected by the Reykjavík City of Literature as part of readings initiated by the Milan City of Literature Not Just Words (Readings for Odessa) on February 24, 2024.

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© Created by Odesa Unesco City of Literature

Website created with the support of Ukrainian Cosmopolis

All rights Reserved

Illustration

© Created by Odesa Unesco City of Literature

Website created with the support of Ukrainian Cosmopolis

All rights Reserved