Writing prompt #32: THE SILENCE OF FATHERS

Hi Everyone,

One of my favorite poets is the Brazilian Carlos Drummond de Andrade, who wrote sublimely about the ordinary in life, including his rural family—and his unexpressive father. In his well-known poem “Viagem Na Familia” (“Travelling in the Family”), he meticulously, wistfully contends with his father’s lifelong silences. Translated by Elizabeth Bishop, the poem begins like this:

“In the desert of Itabira/the shadow of my father/took me by the hand./So much time lost./But he didn’t say anything./It was neither day or night./A sigh? A bird in flight?/But he didn’t say anything …”

To read the rest: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?volume=106&issue=3&page=10

I’ve also asked Alejandro Nodarse, one of our own Las Dos Brujas writers based in Miami, to submit an excerpt from his just-finished novel THE BUTCHER’S MEN. In the following scene we meet the patriarch of the troubled Guerra family as he reacts to his son, who just got out of prison:

Armando Guerra sat on the porch steps with his back to the door. He was framed by two brick columns made seemingly thinner by the width of his back. A six-pack of Presidentes sweated beside him in the sun, their green shadows glimmering on the tile. Armando did not move.

“This is fitting,” Iggy said. “Here I am, calling for you, and you’re just sitting there with your back to me. You’re consistent, old man. I’ll give you that.” 

Armando straightened up but did not turn around. “¿Qué haces tú aquí, eh? What do you want?” 

Iggy stepped further out into the humidity. It clung to his skin. “So that’s what you sound like,” Iggy said, taking another step. “I’d forgotten your voice. It’s good to see you too, Pops. No, really, don’t get up.”

Armando sipped his beer and wiped the moisture from his mustache with the back of his hand. “Go away, Ignacio.” His hair was thick and dark gray, as if time had turned his head into a cinderblock.

“I’m surprised you recognized me,” Iggy said after a moment of silence. “I could’ve sworn I wasn’t worth a memory to you.”

YOUR PROMPT: Consider the silent men in your worlds, fictional or not, paternal or otherwise. What would they say, if they could? Give them a voice, 1-2 pages to start.

Abrazos,

Cristina