The Selected Poetry of Gabriel Zaid

"Gabriel Zaid . . . is a jewel of Latin American letters, which is no small thing to be. Read him—you'll see."—Paul Berman
The first appearance in English of the poetry of Gabriel Zaid, this book comprises forty-two poems (in both English and the original Spanish), translated by a variety of English-speaking poets. Renowned in Mexico as one of his country's leading writers, Zaid has published two books in English, So Many Books and The Secret of Fame (both from Paul Dry Books).
Late Again
Translated by Eliot Weinberger
It's so hard to coordinate:
one hand over your head
like a halo
the other
perpendicular
to your navel.
Nevertheless it's a universal law:
people begin soaping
at their bellies
while other worlds
turn around in their heads.
Think with your stomach,
said the happy Buddha.
But we
ruminate with our heads.
Gabriel Zaid's poetry, essays, social and cultural criticism, and business writings have been widely published throughout the Spanish-speaking world. He lives in Mexico City, Mexico, with the artist Basia Batorska, her paintings, three cats, and ten thousand books. Paul Dry Books has published his So Many Books and The Secret of Fame.