Antipoems Quotes

“TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT

To make a long story short
I leave all my possessions
to the Municipal Slaughterhouse
to the Special Unit of the Police Department
to Lucky Dog Lotto

So now if you want you can shoot”
― Nicanor Parra, Antipoems: How to Look Better and Feel Great

“WHAT DOES AN OLD MAN GAIN BY EXERCISING

what will he gain by talking on the phone
what will he gain by going after fame, tell me
what does he gain by looking in the mirror

Nothing
each time he just sinks deeper in the mud

It’s already three or four in the morning
why doesn’t he try to go to sleep
but no--he won’t stop doing exercise
won’t stop with his famous long-distance calls
won’t stop with Bach
with Beethoven
with Tchaikovsky
won’t stop with the long looks in the mirror
won’t stop with the ridiculous obsession about continuing to breathe

pitiful--it would be better if he turned out the light

Ridiculous old man his mother says to him
you and your father are exactly alike
he didn’t want to die either
may God grant you the strength to drive a car
may God grant you the strength to talk on the phone
may God grant you the strength to breathe
may God grant you the strength to bury your mother

You fell asleep, you ridiculous old man!
but the poor wretch does not intend to sleep
Let’s not confuse crying with sleeping”
― Nicanor Parra, Antipoems: How to Look Better and Feel Great

“Something Like That

PARRA LAUGHS like he’s condemned to hell
but when haven’t poets laughed?
at least he declares that he’s laughing”
― Nicanor Parra, Antipoems: How to Look Better and Feel Great