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Issue 94 of Litro focuses on where our previous Spanish-themed issue last year left off: only this time we delve into non-Castillian writing. Catalan, Basque and Galician writers present us with a rich assortment of stories and poetry that examine the varied cultures and historical heritage of these regions, as well as the personal circumstances of those that inhabit them. Click on the titles to read.

Contents

Two poems from Edward Hopper by Ernest Farrés

The Mattress by Harkaitz Cano

Bodyguard by Xurxo Borrazás

Dandy by Lois Pereiro

Murrai is pondering by Anton R Reixa

From Stone in a Landslide by Maria Barbal

Attractions by Víctor García Tur

Up Early by Suso de Toro

Where Old Cars Die by Cassandra Passarelli

Briar Neck 1912 by Ernest Farrés

Alone by Joseba Sarrionandia

The Ancient Mariner by Joseba Sarrionandia

Litro Events Listings, from Alex James

Apology: Litro’s April edition omitted full attribution of the poetry by Ernest Farrés and cover image. Both were reproduced with kind permission from the new collection of Farrés’ poetry ‘Edward Hopper’, published by Carcanet. Full publication information here

Alone
Joseba Sarrionandia

Translated by Linda White

She’s alone in the world.
She loves getting letters, but when she looks in the mailbox it’s always empty.
She decided to write to herself. She put the letter in an envelope and wrote her address on it twice, once as the recipient and once as the sender.
She went out for a walk down the empty streets and dropped the letter in a random city mailbox. She has been waiting ever since, for two or three days. Every morning she looks in her mailbox. The letter hasn’t arrived.
She is truly alone in the world.

“Alone” was originally published in An Anthology of Basque Short Stories, edited by Mari Jose Olaziregi (Center for Basque Studies-University of Nevada, Reno, 2004).

Briar Neck, 1912
Ernest Farrés

Barren, sun-baked and glistening
from rough weather, rocky crags with deep
gnawn-away gorges and warped landings
hanging plant growth
and rubble as the base of cliffs
descend as far as the sea.
The sea! An eagle
at odds with blackbirds and finches,
a debauchery of countenances
and murmurs fading beneath the arch of the sky,
a mass of indigo gleaming
in the filtered sunlight,
a terminus.
On the outcrop
a free wind intoxicates the senses.

From Edward Hopper by Ernest Farrés, translated from the Catalan by Lawrence Venuti (Carcanet, 2010). Reproduced by permission of Carcanet Press (www.carcanet.co.uk).

Apology: Litro’s April edition omitted full attribution of the poetry by Ernest Farrés and cover image. Both were reproduced with kind permission from the new collection of Farrés’ poetry ‘Edward Hopper’, published by Carcanet. Full publication information here