Jorge Luis Borges is an Argentine writer of poetry, short stories and essays who was nearly unknown in most of the world until 1961. In that year he was awarded the International Publishers Prize, the "Prix Formentor", making him internationally famous in the literary world. He is now thought to be one of the major Latin American poets in the twentieth century. Borges is defined as "a founder, and principal practitioner, of postmodernist literature, a movement in which literature distances itself from life situations in favor of reflection on the creative process and critical self-examination" (Miguel Cane, www.poetryfoundation.org) He was also known for blurring the line between literary genres. Mexican poet and essayist, Octavio Paz claims that "His essays read like stories, his stories are poems; and his poems make us think, as though they were essays" (New Yorker, 1986).
I was introduced to Jorge Luis Borges's work when I watched a Ted talk given by Juan Enriquez called "Your online life, permanent as a tattoo." In his talk, he cautions society to realize that we are revealing too much of our personal lives online. In his talk he references a quote by Borges, "How else can you threaten other than with death?" Enriquez remarks, that in present day our online lives will far outlive our bodies, thus making us electronically immortal. So now the greatest threat to us, done to ourselves or by another, is a threat to our online immortality. We are beyond the days when you could have a morally shady night, and keep that between you and the other people involved. Now there are pictures and videos uploaded instantly, which brand you for life.
After Enriquez's talk I considered deleting Facebook, and then got scared to lose my online photo albums for the last ten years. I immediately decided that my efforts would be better spent on an online hunt for Jorge Luis Borges's electronic tattoo. I read some of his work on www.poetryfoundation.org, and "Music Box" was my very favorite. There were a few vocabulary words within this poem that I had to look up, so I included a little section called "Helpful Definitions" below the poem, just in case you were stuck too :)
Music Box
by Jorge Luis Borges
Music of Japan. Parsimoniously
from the water clock the drops unfold
in lazy honey or ethereal gold
that over time reiterates a weave
eternal, fragile, enigmatic, bright.
I fear that every one will be the last.
They are a yesterday come from the past.
But from what shrine, from what mountain’s slight
garden, what vigils by an unknown sea,
and from what modest melancholy, from
what lost and rediscovered afternoon
do they arrive at their far future: me?
Who knows? No matter. When I hear it play
I am. I want to be. I bleed away.
Translated from the Spanish by Tony Barnstone
Helpful Definitions:
Parsimonious (adj.) - unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal
Ethereal (adj.) - extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world; heavenly or spiritual
Enigmatic (adj.) - difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
Vigil (n.) - 1. a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, esp. to keep
watch or pray.
2. a stationary, peaceful demonstration in support of a particular cause, typically without speeches
3. nocturnal devotions
2. a stationary, peaceful demonstration in support of a particular cause, typically without speeches
3. nocturnal devotions
Melancholy (n.) - a deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness.
(adj.) - sad, gloomy, or depressed; causing or expressing sadness; depressing
Check out Jorge Luis Borges's biography and other works at:
Have a great day!
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