Los Caprichos de Goya

Ekphrastic poetry by Amelia Díaz Ettinger

volaverunt

en el mundo de Goya, como en el nuestro,
para poder seguir viviendo
hasta el cuerpo se facilita

si la bella mariposa se transformó
de gusano a crisálida y pudo tener alas,
porque no una niña en esta tierra

informe donde su única manera de volar
es en brazo de hombres que solo buscan
un lugar cálido para desaguar sus deseos 

de presunción para continuar sus planeos
donde no miraran detrás a ver
a quienes sacrificaron, solo quieren seguir 

adelante
ellos no pensaron lo posible de este vuelo


 
in Goya’s world, like in ours
to be able to continue living
even the body becomes the offering 

if the beautiful butterfly transformed
from worm to chrysalis and grew wings,
why not a girl in this uneven sphere

where her only way to take wing
is in the arms of men who only seek
a warm place to vent their desires 

of presumption to continue their plans
they won't look back to see who
they sacrificed, they only want to continue 

forward
and didn’t imagine the possibility of this flight

Linda Maestra, Vuela

porque no hay otro remedio
que volar en la escoba 
de astilla hecha por el hambre

tal vez la Linda Maestra sufre—
sabe adónde lleva a su cordera
al conocido altar del sacrificio

para ellas ayer igual que hoy,
hay que comer, aunque la comida
le cuesta las alas al búho


Pretty Teacher, Fly

because there is no other way
than to fly on the brooms 
set by hunger

maybe the Pretty Teacher suffers
she knows where she takes her lamb
the well-known sacrificial altar of a bed

for those of yesteryear as it is today—
the need to nourish
can costs the owl its wings

From the author:

The Spokane Library has a rare collection of early reproductions of Goya's work. Among them, Los Caprichos. I have always been interested in Goya's work, especially this later work. His political commentaries are just as relevant today as they were during his time.

Amelia Díaz Ettinger is a BIPOC poet and writer working in Eastern Oregon. She has five books of poetry and has published in many journals, magazines, and periodicals.