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Cardinal Points: Four Basque Poets

May 2017

In this collection, originally featured in the May 2017 issue of Words Without Borders, we present four Basque poets, translated and introduced by Amaia Gabantxo.

Cardinal Points: Four Basque Poets
By Amaia Gabantxo
Oral and written literary traditions in Basque follow two very distinct paths, both very rich and alive.
Hand 3
By Juan Mari Lekuona
Everything—including life— / ends when the hands give up.
Translated from Basque by Amaia Gabantxo
Painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder titled Landscape with the Fall of Icarus
Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Fall of Icarus
By Joseba Sarrionandia
Joseba Sarrionaindia’s poem, translated from the Basque, contemplates the problem with suffering and waiting for Icarus to fall.
Translated from Basque by Amaia Gabantxo
Multimedia
A Memory
By Miren Agur Meabe
Our knees were trusting doves; the ribbons in our hair, delicious bait.
Translated from Basque by Amaia Gabantxo
Multilingual
Lounging tiger
Photo by Carolina Munemasa on Unsplash
Life with a Tiger
By Harkaitz Cano
Hardly anyone comes to visit when you live with a tiger.
Translated from Basque by Amaia Gabantxo
Multilingual