Anthem of Evaporated Tears
El deber del pan
Xavier Valcárcel de Jesús
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The tears are evaporated now in Xavier Valcárcel de Jesús’s poem, but they have flowed from the stream of unrequited love as far back as Garcilaso de la Vega’s Eclogue I where Salicio says, "Salid, sin duelo, lágrimas, corriendo." Anthem of Evaporated Tears packs into one poem the elements of nature—fire, water, earth, and air—and, into one suitcase, the ingredients of el deber del pan—egg, salt, flour, and waves—as it narrates an intergenerational break-up story—with all the frustrations and violence that domesticity and dependence cause in a spirit that wishes to fly free. The mother and son play the roles of Aneas and his father Anchises fleeing from the burning of Troy. Xavier takes us on a short journey from the ex-lover’s house to his mother’s house—a very short distance in Puerto Rico, but packed with enormous grief, disillusionment, and heartache—expressing the lack of possibility—a collective impotence—the inability to change the situation, and nevertheless to create poetry. The translation by Roque Raquel Salas Rivera, author of the epic poem Algarabía, is masterful, starting with the retitling of the book from the Spanish original El deber del pan to a more poetic and apt line from within the poem.
Roque and Xavier, to each, I will give an exquisite pluma in a banquet that will mark “el paso de las plumas” from one generation to another, and with these plumas they will continue creating with imagination and gusto, and when the time comes for them to pass las plumas to another generation, they will select their own company. The Soul selects her own Society—as Emily Dickinson said-- Then — shuts the Door -- To her divine Majority -- Present no more — |
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Xavier Valcárcel de Jesús is a Puerto Rican visual artist and poet. He has published eight books of poetry: Cama onda (2007), Anzuelos y carnadas(2009), Palo de lluvia (2010), Restos de lumbre y despedida(2012), El deber del pan (2013), Fe de calendario (2016), Helio (2022) and Quise beber morir soñando (2024); as well as the crónica Aterrizar no es regreso (2019). In 2021, he became one of the inaugural recipients of the Letras Boricuas Fellowship, granted by The Mellon Foundation and the Flamboyán Foundation’s Art Fund.
Roque Raquel Salas Rivera is a Puerto Rican translator and poet of trans experience. His honors include being named Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, the Premio Nuevas Voces, and the inaugural Ambroggio Prize. His translation of Ada Limón’s poem dedicated to NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is currently on its way to Jupiter’s moon. His most recent book, Algarabía (2025), is an epic poem that follows the journey of Cenex, a trans being who narrates his life while navigating the stories told on his behalf.
Anthem of Evaporated Tears / El deber del pan was designed by Mutandis. Covers letterpress printed with Shut Eye Press and des/centro de poesía
Roque Raquel Salas Rivera is a Puerto Rican translator and poet of trans experience. His honors include being named Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, the Premio Nuevas Voces, and the inaugural Ambroggio Prize. His translation of Ada Limón’s poem dedicated to NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is currently on its way to Jupiter’s moon. His most recent book, Algarabía (2025), is an epic poem that follows the journey of Cenex, a trans being who narrates his life while navigating the stories told on his behalf.
Anthem of Evaporated Tears / El deber del pan was designed by Mutandis. Covers letterpress printed with Shut Eye Press and des/centro de poesía
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