"Let's Canonize the Whores" by Jaime Sabines.

[Godslayer Jillian]

This is one of my favorite poems. I think many here will enjoy it as much as I did.
But I must warn you; I'm translating it, so I become responsible for any part of the poem that becomes less beautiful because something was lost in translation:

Let's Canonize the Whores
Let's canonize the whores. Saturday's hagiography: Bety,
Lola, Margot, perpetual virgins, reconstructed,
Provisional martyrs full of grace, springs of
Generosity.

You give pleasure, oh whore redeemer of the world, and
You ask nothing back but some miserable coins. You don't
Demand to be loved, respected, pampered, nor imitate the
Wives with moaning, reprimanding, and
Jealousy. You don't force anyone into neither farewell nor
Reconciliation; you don't suck the blood nor the time; are
Clean of guilt; receive in you bosom the sinners,
Listen the words and dreams, smile and kiss.
You are patient, expert, wise, afflicted, with no grudge.
You fool no one, are honest, right, perfect;
You anticipate your price,show yourself; don't discriminate
The old, the criminal, the fool, the other
Color; you stand the agressions of pride, the
Artifices of the sick; you heal the impotent,
Stimulate the shy, satisfy the tired,
Find the formula of the disenchanted. You are the
Drunkard's confidant, the refuge of the persecuted, the
Cradle of him who has no repose.

You have educated your mouth and your hands, your muscles and your
Skin, your guts and your soul. Know to dress and undress,
Lie, move. You're precise in the rhythm, exact in
The moan, docile to the manners of love.

You are the freedom and equilibrium; hold back nor stop
No one; don't submit to memories nor wait.
You're pure presence, fluidity, perpetuity.

In the place you labor to the truth and the beauty
Of life, whether elegant brothel, discreet house
Or poverty's bed, you're the same than a
Lamp and a glass of water and a bread.

Oh, friend whore, lover, loved, twist of this day
Of always, I know you, I canonize you to the side
Of the hypocrites and the perverse, I give you all my money,
I crown you with blades of grass and determine to
Learn from you all the time.

[erotomaniac87]

Jillian, you should have posted the original version of the poem along with your translation. I'm curious to read it in its original form. Anyway, it was a real treat reading it, thanks for posting.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Haha, yeah, Cicero also told me that but I forgot to. (sorry pretty girl >_<)
Here's the original Spanish version:


CANONICEMOS A LAS PUTAS...
Jaime Sabines

Canonicemos a las putas. Santoral de Sábado: Bety,
Lola, Margot, vírgenes perpetuas, reconstruidas,
Mártires provisorias llenas de gracia, manantiales de
Generosidad.

Das el placer, oh puta redentora del mundo, y nada
Pides a cambio sino unas monedas miserables. No
Exiges ser amada, respetada, atendida, ni imitas a las
Esposas con los lloriqueos, las reconvenciones y los
Celos. No obligas a nadie a la despedida ni a la
Reconciliación; no chupas la sangre ni el tiempo; eres
Limpia de culpa; recibes en tu seno a los pecadores,
Escuchas las palabras y los sueños, sonríes y besas.
Eres paciente, experta, atribulada, sabia, sin rencor.
No engañas a nadie, eres honesta, íntegra, perfecta;
Anticipas tu precio, te enseñas; no discriminas a los
Viejos, a los criminales, a los tontos, a los de otro
Color; soportas las agresiones del orgullo, las
Asechanzas de los enfermos; alivias a los impotentes,
Estimulas a los tímidos, complaces a los hartos,
Encuentras la fórmula de los desencantados. Eres la confidente del borracho, el refugio del perseguido, el
lecho del que no tiene reposo.

Has educado tu boca y tus manos, tus músculos y tu
piel, tus vísceras y tu alma. Sabes vestir y desvestirte,
acostarte, moverte. Eres precisa en el ritmo, exacta en
El gemido, dócil a las maneras del amor.

Eres la libertad y el equilibrio; no sujetas ni detienes
a nadie; no sometes a los recuerdos ni a la espera.
Eres pura presencia, fluidez, perpetuidad.

En el lugar en que oficias a la verdad y a la belleza
de la vida, ya sea el burdel elegante, la casa discreta
o el camastro de la pobreza, eres lo mismo que una
lámpara y un vaso de agua y un pan.

Oh puta amiga, amante, amada, recodo de este día
de siempre, te reconozco, te canonizo a un lado
de los hipócritas y los perversos, te doy todo mi dinero,
te corono con hojas de yerba y me dispongo a
aprender de ti todo el tiempo.


(by the way, how well did I translate it? :P)

[erotomaniac87]

Jilli, since you liked that one, read this one:

http://www.ficticia.com/cuentos/triangulo.html

It's a short story about prostitution by César Benitez.

Enjoy.

[erotomaniac87]

Oh, thanks Jilli!!! *blows kiss*

[erotomaniac87]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

(by the way, how well did I translate it? :P)

I'll write a response regarding that later in the day; I'm off to bed now. *waves*

[erotomaniac87]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

(by the way, how well did I translate it? :P)

I won't deny there are some minor imperfections in your translation, but I also can't negate the fact that you did a pretty good job at it.

[knightmare]

If you like this kind of "uplifting poetry," maybe you should listen to fellow respected authors such as 2pac and Ludacris who also love the hos. "I bang cock in Bangkok Can't stop, I turn and hit the same spot
Think not, I'm the thriller in Manilla. Schlong in Hong Kong. They call me the abominable ho-man." More beautiful lines could not be uttered.

I think Mr. Sabines is at the same level as these rappers as he ignores the health risks and depression associated with prostitution. They spread the joy and the STDs. Several prostitutes are forced into this way of life, and comparing their way of life to those of saints is reprehensible. Women have accomplished many things and should not be remembered or recognized for their sexual acts. Maybe raising a family, being compassionate to others, succeeding in the workplace and other feats should be praised instead of being recognized for their promiscuity (which is partially responsible for the rise in STD occurrence). However, I'm sure pimps and rappers would agree with Mr. Sabines.

[Godslayer Jillian]

I doubt Sabines praised whores over any other kind of woman.
He just praised them as there is also light in such a job. In fact, I wouldn't say he exaggerated anything in this poem; people just don't appreciate the value of a prostitute enough to see it, not even the prostitute herself values her own worth.
When reading this poem, think not on the hooker you saw once in a corner. When reading this poem, think of Mary Magdalene; think of Veronica Franco; think of M.ichelle Tea. (weird censorship)

[knightmare]

Raising prostitutes to the level of saints like Mother Teresa (and Oprah ) is reprehensible. Prostitutes are forced into their situation, and they are not selfless, as they require money. Many prostitutes do know their own value and even use prostitution as means of empowerment by using man's inherent sexual drives for their own material gain. Even in feminism, they are seen as power positions since they can refuse man the sex they want unless they fulfill some requirement.

[KontanKarite]

I love Mary Magdalene. She is the bomb. Though Lilith is the bomb as well, so I guess you can imagine what would be on my mind.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by knightmare

Raising prostitutes to the level of saints like Mother Teresa is reprehensible.

Well, I won't get into the Mother Teresa thing (not a fan of her), but one must remember if raising prostitutes to the level of saints is 'reprehensible', it's only because it is, not because it ought to be. Sabines is very romantic. He has praised the ideal whore; one with the actions of any other prostitute, but with Sabines' mind. We can see his personality all over the poem by reading what he believes is virtuous in them.
What he wants is a prostitute-poet. Anyone that can derive poetry from any action ought to be at the same level of a saint.

[korinna5555]

Beautiful poem, Jilly..