Formas y colors de las palabras
By David Huerta - Mexico, 1949–
Transitional | Language
Escucha una palabra con atención,
cualquier palabra.
Es puro sonido
pero algo quiere decir:
Naranja, una fruta;
avión, máquina que vuela;
Clodomiro, nombre de una persona;
Azucena, flor blanca.
Ahora vuelve a escucharlas
y encuéntrales formas y colores:
¿No tiene espada
un saborcito metálico
muy adecuado?
Perfume con esa u
donde cae el acento
es profunda
y azul y verde.
Verónica tiene todas
las vocales, menos la u.
Carretera rechina
y serpentea.
Y así por el estilo…
Glossary
|
WORD
|
DEFINITION
|
POSSIBLE SYNONYMS
|
|---|---|---|
| a (prep.) | used with the base form of a verb to indicate that the verb is in the infinitive | to |
| acento (n.) | a distinct emphasis given to a syllable or word in speech by stress or pitch | accent, stress, emphasis, pronunciation, intonation, enunciation |
| adecuado/a (adj.) | satisfactory or acceptable quality or quantity | adequate, appropriate, suitable, fitting |
| ahora (adv.) | at the present time or moment | now, at the moment, at present, in the present, at this moment in time, currently, presently |
| algo (n.) | a thing that is unspecified or unknown | something |
| así por el estilo (idiomatic phrase) | a mode of expression, turn of a phrase, set of words when taken together have a particular meaning | and so on, and like that |
| atención (n.) | notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important | attention, be aware, consider, notice, observe, heed, notice |
| avión (n.) | a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces | airplane, aircraft, plane |
| azucena (n.) | a bulbous plant with large trumpet- shaped flowers on a tall, slender stem | lily |
| azul (adj.) | a color intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky or sea on a sunny day | blue |
| blanca (adj.) | the color of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of most wavelengths of visible light; the opposite of black | white |
| cae (v.) | from the verb caer, meaning to move downward, rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level | falls, drops |
| carretera (n.) | a wide way for vehicles leading from one place to another | road, highway, way, route, parkway, thoroughfare |
| Clodomiro (n.) | a name of a person | Clodomiro |
| colores (n.) | the property possessed by objects of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the objects reflect or emit light | colors, hues |
| con (prep.) | indicating the manner or attitude of the person doing something | with |
| cualquier (adj.) | used to emphasize a lack of restriction selecting one of a definite set of alternatives | whichever, whatever, any |
| de (prep.) | expressing the relationship between a part and a whole | of |
| decir (v.) | utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction | say, tell, mention, speak, utter, voice, give voice to, declare |
| donde (adv.) | in or to what situation or condition | where |
| el (m. art.) | denoting one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge | the |
| encuéntrales (reflex. v.) | discover or perceive someone or something by chance or unexpectedly | find them, locate them, light upon them, run across them, unearth them |
| es (v.) | from the third person singular of the verb ser, meaning to be | is, continues to be, persists in being |
| esa (adj.) | used to identify a specific person or thing observed by the speaker | that |
| escucha (v.) | from the verb escuchar, in this form it is the imperative, urging someone to pay attention | listen, hear, heed, take heed, pay attention, be attentive, take notice, take into consideration, tune into to |
| escucharlas (reflex. v.) | to give one’s attention to a sound and take notice of what it is trying to communicate | listen to them, hear them, take heed of them, tune into them |
| espada (n.) | weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard | sword, blade |
| flor (n.) | the part of a plant that is surrounded by brightly colored petals | flower, blooms, blossoms |
| formas (n.) | the visible shape or configuration of something | forms, shapes, configurations, constructions |
| fruta (n.) | the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food | fruit |
| la (f. art.) | denoting one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge | the |
| las (f. pl. art.) | denoting one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge | the |
| máquina (n.) | an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task | machine, apparatus, device, contraption |
| menos (adv.) | with the subtraction of | minus, lacking, missing, deprived of |
| metálico (adj.) | a solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g., iron, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum, and alloys such as brass and steel) | metal, metallic |
| muy (adv.) | used for emphasis—in a high degree | very, extremely, exceedingly, acutely, really, seriously, ultra |
| naranja (n.) | a round, juicy citrus fruit with a tough, bright reddish-yellow rind | orange |
| nombre (n.) | a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to | name, handle, moniker |
| palabra (n.) | a single distinct, meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed | word, term, name, expression |
| perfume (n.) | a fragrant liquid typically made from essential oils extracted from flowers and spices, used to impart a pleasant smell to one's body or clothes | perfume, fragrance, scent |
| pero (conj.) | used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned | but, yet, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, notwithstanding, all the same |
| persona (n.) | a human being regarded as an individual | person, being, individual, human being |
| profunda (adj.) | a very great or intense state, quality, or emotion | deep, profound, heartfelt, intense, fervent, ardent |
| puro (adj.) | not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material | pure, fresh, clean, sparkling, uncontaminated, undiluted, clear |
| que (conj.) | used to identify a specific person or thing observed by the speaker | that |
| quiere (v.) | from the verb querer, meaning to have a desire to possess or do something | wants, desires, hopes for, fancies |
| rechina (v.) | from the verb rechinar, meaning a sound or motion that is harsh | grate, grind, creak, squeak |
| saborcito (n.) | sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance | sweet taste, delightful flavor |
| serpentea (v.) | move in or take a twisting or spiral course | to snake, wind, meander |
| sonido (n.) | sensation perceived by the sense of hearing | sound, tone, noise, intonation |
| tiene (v.) | from the verb tener, meaning to be in one’s possession | have, has |
| todas (adj.) | used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing | all, each of, every one of, each of, every single one of |
| un (m.), una (f.) (art.) | single; just one as opposed to any more or to none at all—used for emphasis | one, an, a, a single, a solitary |
| verde (adj.) | the color between blue and yellow in the spectrum; colored like grass or emeralds | green |
| Verónica (n.) | a proper name | Veronica |
| vocales (n.) | a speech sound that is produced by a comparatively open configuration of the vocal tract, with vibration of the vocal cords but without audible friction; the one most prominent sound in a syllable | vowels |
| vuela (v.) | from the verb volar, meaning how an aircraft or its occupants travel through the air | flies, takes wing, soars |
| vuelva (v.) | from the verb volver, meaning turn one's attention back to something | return, come back, go back |
| y (conj.) | used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences that are to be taken jointly | and, as well as, in addition to |
Background
About Free Verse
Free verse is a literary device that can be defined as poetry that is free from
limitations of regular meter or rhythm and does not rhyme with fixed forms. Such
poems are without rhythms and rhyme schemes; do not follow regular rhyme
scheme rules and still provide artistic expression. In this way, the poet can give his
own shape to a poem how he/she desires. However, it still allows poets to use
alliteration, rhyme, cadences or rhythms to get the effects that they consider are
suitable for the piece.
Bio
“Poetry is in my blood!” explains David Huerta. As a child Huerta observed his father, renowned Mexican poet Efraín Huerta, write poetry and sketch. In no time at all David was doing the same thing. Always imaginative, he didn’t follow any rules. He wrote anywhere, on anything: cards, napkins, notebooks, a typewriter, and spoke into his voice recorder. Huerta continues to make a game out of writing poetry—playing with sounds, words, meaning, and imagery. After composing, he revises and revises, sometimes hundreds of times, always looking for the music and images in words.
To access this page, you must sign up for an Educator Membership.