The Desert of Atacama VII

By Raúl Zurita

Translated by Anna Deeny Morales

i. Let's look then at the Desert of Atacama

ii. Let's look at our loneliness in the desert

So that desolate before these forms the landscape becomes

a cross extended over Chile and the loneliness of my form

then sees the redemption of the other forms: my own

Redemption in the Desert

iii. Then who would speak of the redemption of my form

iv. Who would tell of the desert's loneliness

So that my form begins to touch your form and your form

that other form like that until all of Chile is nothing but

one form with open arms: a long form crowned with thorns

v. Then the Cross will be nothing but the opening arms

of my form

vi. We will then be the Crown of Thorns in the Desert

vii. Then nailed form to form like a Cross

extended over Chile we will have seen forever

the Final Solitary Breath of the Desert of Atacama

Source: Purgatory (University of California Press, 2009)