On civil war



from Espitallier's Theorem

Trans. by Sherry Brennan


The friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of my enemies are my friends

(I would like not to have to repeat it to you)

On Civil War


The friends of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of my enemies are my friends

(I would not like to have to repeat it to you)

On Civil War


The friends of the friends of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my friends

(I would like to have not to repeat it to you)

On Civil War


The friends of the friends of the friends of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my enemies

(I would not like not to have to not repeat it to you)


Espitallier at Kelly Writer's House:
http://www.writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/Espitallier-2004.html

Translator:

Sherry Brennan, poet and translator, lives and works in New York. Her book of poetry, On poems and their antecedents, is just out (subpress), as is her translation of Espitallier's Fantasy Butcher (Duration Press). Earlier chapbooks include Taken, again today and The Resemblances. She has published widely in journals such as Chain, How(ever), New American Writing and raddle moon. Recent essays can be found in African American Review and the online journal Jacket.