After the War by Jotamario Arbeláez

a day
after the war
if there is a war
if after the war there is a day
I will hold you in my arms a day after the war
if there is a war
if after the war there is a day
if after the war I have arms
and I will make love to you with love
a day after the war
if there is a war
if after the war there is a day
if after the war there is love
and if there is what it takes to make love
_{Translated by Nicolás Suescún}

Jotamario Arbeláez on the Medellín metro, where he and his fellow Nadaistas are commemorated. Photograph: Mat Youkee/The Guardian

for more information about Arbeláez and the nadaístas group in Columbia during the 1960’s, see this article

other poems on this site

Windrush Us

Notre Dame

a sonnet in situ

Gendered Eyes

a poem for Jo

migration

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