“Marxist Seagulls” is an original text by Jason Barker. Together with its Spanish rendition by Rolando Prats, “Marxist Seagulls” is a feature of Communis’ series Transiterations, of which it is the inaugural installment.
Marxist Seagulls
you’re not from round here
you’re on the wrong beach
your song and dance number
could raise the dead
of the Roman legions.
they weren’t stupid
under siege
they raised your standard aloft
their party advanced
they cut down birch trees
you cackled your resentment
but for the rodney brigade
walking dogs and plastic waste
they were no match for you
they weren’t bright enough to subtract
the stars.
back to your impenetrable cliffs
to look out
at the drowned Phoenecian
whose voice is trapped
in dribbling manifestos of foam.
repeat after me
we shall not be moved
Isle of Thanet, England. 5 July 2024. T. S. Eliot wrote parts of The Waste Land five hundred yards from the spot where the girl is dancing in the photograph. Photo by Ana Stankovic. All rights reserved.
Gaviotas marxistas
no sois de por estos parajes
os habéis equivocado de playa
vuestro número de canto y baile
podría resucitar a los muertos
de las legiones romanas.
no es que fuesen tontos
bajo asedio
en alto alzaban vuestra insignia
su partida avanzaba
a su paso derribaban abedules
graznabais vuestro resentimiento
pero para la brigada de holgazanes
perros sueltos y desechos plásticos
no eran rival para vosotras
no eran todo lo brillantes que hacía falta
para restar las estrellas.
volved a vuestros impenetrables acantilados
a contemplar
al marinero fenicio que se ahogó
cuya voz se ha quedado atrapada
en goteantes manifiestos de espuma.
repitáis conmigo
we shall not be moved
Feature image: Isle of Thanet, England. 5 July 2024. Photo by Ana Stankovic. All rights reserved.
