Revisiting the Grijalva
You might not know this, but of the few dreams I have one of them is to go to South Africa's Dyer Island and go diving with the largest colony of Great White sharks in the world. Just wee Zachary surrounded by a dozen or so 10 foot long sharks. What fun! I was thinking about this because my latest edition of SharkDiver magazine just arrived. And this being Friday1 I can spend a little time fantasizing about all the things I might do, but probably won't. There is no shame in that, is there?
Like washing, shampooing, laundry!
How can one go scuba diving with the lords of the oceans if laundry is a pressing issue (no pun, folks)? I think I recall that I once wrote this: Today I have been thinking about the term "las lavanderas," the washerwomen of the world. And I am still thinking.
Here is a new version of Castellanos' Lavanderas del Grijalva. Here is the Grijalva river in Chiapas, Mexico. Something to look at while you read this since I was not happy with my old translation.
| Lavanderas del Grijalva Rosario Castellanos |
Washerwomen on the Grijalva translated by ZJC |
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Pañuelo del adiós, camisa de la boda, en el río, entre peces jugando con las olas. Como un recién nacido Mujeres de la espuma |
A handkerchief for goodbyes, a wedding chemise, in the river, among the fishes frollicking in the waves. Like a child being born Women of foam |
- I wrote to a friend today the following: Ah, Friday! I used to feel sorry for Fridays because they had to carry so much expectations, the weekend! Everyone would think: Time to relax and have fun … or go out dancing … or find a new lover … or go on an adventure. Tuesdays and Sundays don't suffer like Friday, well maybe they do? Now I think of it I work on my Fridays so they don't have the same responsibilities as they used to. In fact, Sunday and Wednesday being my days off now, I guess Tuesdays and Saturdays have to work a lot harder for me. How strange, treating days of the week like beasts of burden? I wonder if that is still true? [back]