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Micrograms
"So extraordinarily clear, so connected to the primitive I imagine I am . . . participating in a vision already lost to the world." —William Carlos Williams
The microgram is collected, pondered upon, and defined in this quiet classic of Ecuadorian literature.
In the alphabet of things
the snail invents
the penultimate letter.
Jorge Carrera Andrade (1902–1978) has been recognized as one of the most important Latin American poets of the twentieth century.
Alejandro de Acosta and Joshua Beckman co-translated Carlos Oquendo de Amat's 5 Meters of Poems. Beckman's translation of Tomaž Šalamun's Poker was a finalist for the PEN/America Poetry in Translation Award.
The microgram is collected, pondered upon, and defined in this quiet classic of Ecuadorian literature.
In the alphabet of things
the snail invents
the penultimate letter.
Jorge Carrera Andrade (1902–1978) has been recognized as one of the most important Latin American poets of the twentieth century.
Alejandro de Acosta and Joshua Beckman co-translated Carlos Oquendo de Amat's 5 Meters of Poems. Beckman's translation of Tomaž Šalamun's Poker was a finalist for the PEN/America Poetry in Translation Award.
- GenresPoetry
96 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Jorge Carrera Andrade
69 books10 followersJorge Carrera Andrade was an Ecuadorian poet, historian, author, and diplomat during the 20th century. He was born in Quito, Ecuador in 1902. He died in 1978.
While living in the United States, Carrera developed many literary relationships with American writers, in particular Muna Lee whose critically-acclaimed translation of his poetry, Secret Country, was published in 1946. His work was praised and championed by John Malcolm Brinnin, H.R. Hays, Archibald MacLeish, Carl Sandburg, William Jay Smith and William Carlos Williams. Carrera Andrade's poetic work developed for half a century in a number of volumes published worldwide.
While living in the United States, Carrera developed many literary relationships with American writers, in particular Muna Lee whose critically-acclaimed translation of his poetry, Secret Country, was published in 1946. His work was praised and championed by John Malcolm Brinnin, H.R. Hays, Archibald MacLeish, Carl Sandburg, William Jay Smith and William Carlos Williams. Carrera Andrade's poetic work developed for half a century in a number of volumes published worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 13, 2025
Unique. Original. Fresh. “I try to testify to an ordinary man’s orbit in time,” wrote Andrade about his work as a journalist and editor, diplomat and poet. “At first he feels as a stranger in the midst of a changing world but later receives the visit of love and discovers deep within himself a feeling of solidarity with all men of the planet. In this sense I have traversed new countries in different latitudes and have returned to others already known, in a pilgrimage as passionate observer rather than as curious traveler” (pp. vii-viii).
The editors’ Introduction offers illuminating insights that deepen the understanding of the poet, his multifaceted career, and his work. Andrade’s essay “Origin and Future of the Microgram” provides a brief introduction to the microgram form, its lineage, and some examples, plus an illuminating discussion of the Latinization of the haiku. Andrade’s collection of haiku by well-known masters (translated from Japanese into Spanish by the poet and from Spanish to English by the editors) is particularly refreshing.
DEFINITION OF A SEAGULL
Seagull: foam eyebrow
on wave of silence.
Kerchief of shipwreck.
Skyroglyph.
(p. 49)
Favorite Poems:
“Oyster”
“What the Snail Is”
“Butterfly”
“Definition of a Seagull”
“Palm Reader”
The editors’ Introduction offers illuminating insights that deepen the understanding of the poet, his multifaceted career, and his work. Andrade’s essay “Origin and Future of the Microgram” provides a brief introduction to the microgram form, its lineage, and some examples, plus an illuminating discussion of the Latinization of the haiku. Andrade’s collection of haiku by well-known masters (translated from Japanese into Spanish by the poet and from Spanish to English by the editors) is particularly refreshing.
DEFINITION OF A SEAGULL
Seagull: foam eyebrow
on wave of silence.
Kerchief of shipwreck.
Skyroglyph.
(p. 49)
Favorite Poems:
“Oyster”
“What the Snail Is”
“Butterfly”
“Definition of a Seagull”
“Palm Reader”
December 13, 2025
Un universo. Me encantan los microgramas. A veces regreso solo para admirar, a los lejos, cualquier poema.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2017
A lovely collection of translated haikus (via Spanish) and other haiku-like poems.
January 7, 2012
I was so glad to receive this a Goodreads' First Reads winner.
MICROGRAMS provided a nice introduction to the work of Jorge Carrera Andrade and included an exposition by Andrade himself of the form known as a microgram. I was intrigued. Then came the presented collection of micrograms and a selection of haikus that Andrade had translated from the original Japanese to Spanish (presented to us in English). Each page turn was such a delight revealing little insights, tiny bursts of thought and impression! I wanted to post this as soon as I had done and now will go back and re-read this little volume again and put "Find more Andrade" on my list of things to do.
Decision point: do I put this on my keeper shelf or lend it out of my possession?
MICROGRAMS provided a nice introduction to the work of Jorge Carrera Andrade and included an exposition by Andrade himself of the form known as a microgram. I was intrigued. Then came the presented collection of micrograms and a selection of haikus that Andrade had translated from the original Japanese to Spanish (presented to us in English). Each page turn was such a delight revealing little insights, tiny bursts of thought and impression! I wanted to post this as soon as I had done and now will go back and re-read this little volume again and put "Find more Andrade" on my list of things to do.
Decision point: do I put this on my keeper shelf or lend it out of my possession?
October 17, 2011
Pithy, precise, vivid--all one could hope for from a selection of small poems, seamlessly translated.
October 10, 2013
Love the short form poems. This was a good read for me. It gave me some reasons to get back to my haiku and epigram style poetry.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews