Anthony's Arm

Trying to paint a tattoo is one of the hardest things I think that I've ever attempted. To make it look like it is part of the arm and not just floating in front of it is difficult. For awhile it looked like I had ran up to someone's painting of an arm and painted on top of it. I'm glad that we did this in class because I learned a lot from it.

Esta muchacha esta pintada...

     I have continued to work with Spanish literature to further discover my interest in interpretation. As I continue to learn a second language I recognize changes in myself. I feel that I think more deeply as I sometimes have thoughts in two languages simultaneously. I also continue to learn about other cultures, which is something I did not expect to become so interested in. I am submersing myself in this research on many different levels. I still have a long way to go and I am nowhere near fluent but I am enjoying the journey to that goal. 

     Through my research I found this poem. I immediately pictured the girl in the poem and imagined her struggle to escape. She has been given the gift of flight in her existence on a sheet of thin paper.  I tied the fragile piece of paper to a frame of driftwood branches. She has been grounded to Earth but movement still exists as the paper catches drifts of wind and attempts to escape. I love that I had a hard time tying the paper down and in the wind it did almost fly away. Just like the girl in the poem it resisted my attempts to tie it down. 

LOURDES

Esta muchacha esta pintada
en un papel de arroz que es transparente
a la luz; ella vuela en su papel
al aire... Vuela con las hojas secas
y con los suspires perdidos.
Es la muchacha de papel y fuga;
es la leve, la ingrávida
muchacha de papel iluminado,
la de colores de agua...
La que nadie se atrevería
a besar por el miedo de borrarla...

This girl painted

on rice paper transparent

to the light: She flies on her paper

to the air… Flies with the dry leaves

and with the lost sighs.

She is the girl of paper and escape;

she is the light, weightless

girl of illuminated paper,

the colors of water…

That no one would dare

to kiss for fear of erasing.