Banalien

by Brane Mozetič

Es ist schwierig, die Nähe von Männern zu suchen, und zugleich alles zu hassen, was diese Welt zu einer Männerwelt macht Es ist genau dieser Widerspruch, der die Welt des „Ichs“ dieser Gedichte prägt. Eines Nachts bemerkt er an seinem Freund einen Geruch, den er seit der Zeit des prügelnden Stiefvaters nur zu gut kennt, und er läuft davon. Uniformträger aller Art sind ihm ebenso unverständlich wie kluge Party-Schwätzer, egal ob in Ljubljana, Paris oder New York. Aber manchmal trifft er einen Anderen, der sich aus einer ähnlichen Einsamkeit heraus an ihn wendet und ihn berührt. Der Zyklus dieser fünfzig Gedichte fügt sich zu einer Reise durch intime und soziale Räume, die nur selten von Erinnerungen an glückliche Momente erhellt werden. Am Ende dieser Reise steht eine Liste all dessen, was zu vergessen ist, und diese Liste schöner und schmerzlicher Erlebnisse beschwört die ganze Intensität des Lebensgefühls, das der Autor in seine Prosagedichte hat einfließen lassen. Niemand wird diese „Banalien“ je vergessen.

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Brane Mozetič (1958-) is a Slovene poet, writer, editor and translator. He is known for his homoerotic poetry, novels, his editorial work and his translations of works by Rimbaud, Genet and Foucault into Slovene, but he has also written four children's books.

He studied Comparative literature and Literary theory at the University of Ljubljana and graduated in 1983. He works as the editor of the literary collections Aleph and Lambda at the Centre for Slovenian Literature. In 2003 he won the Jenko Award for his poetry colletion Banalije (Banalities)

Reviews

[Dióscoro Zamarripa · Rating 5 out of 5]

He aquí que uno puede llegar un día a clase, sin haber revisado los textos que se iban a discutir, y escuchar cómo van desgranando, poco a poco, algo que te resulta tan familiar. Hacen un comentario, leen un poema, leen otro, y van apareciendo el mundo violento de la infancia, lleno de muerte y sufrimiento —pero, a la vez, impregnado de una belleza que no se puede volver a encontrar en ninguna parte. El desencanto de la vida. La poca libertad de expresión durante la dictadura socialista y el posterior desencanto con la democracia, al darte cuenta de que muchas de tus expectativas y deseos terminan por esfumarse. El erotismo y la sexualidad como experiencias límite, escenas batailleanas. El erotismo como la afirmación de la vida en la muerte. El deseo de romper, de cortar, de destruir. Lo sórdido —cochinos, animales muertos, sexo explícito y transgresivo— mezclado con la ternura y el sufrimiento, pero también con lo más excelso e inmaculado, la belleza sentada en las rodillas para ser mancillada.
Uno espera llegar y escuchar poemas patrióticos eslovenos, sufrimiento de guerra, etc., que es, en gran parte, lo que hemos visto. Que son muy buenos, pero se sienten ajenos. Pero Mozetič, con su influencia transgresora francesa —Rimbaud, Bataille, Genet— y su desencanto poscomunista, no hacía más que recordarme ese viaje al poscomunismo de Yolanda Pantin y Ana Teresa Torres, por toda la cercanía que encontraba. Fue un hallazgo sorpresivo.
Es por este tipo de cosas que voy a clases de literatura, porque, por más que sientas que estás saturado o que ya nada te puede sorprender, puedes llegar a encontrarte con poemas de una brutalidad y una honestidad inusitadas, capaces de robarte el aliento y dejarte una honda impresión. Volví a casa y me bebí el libro.
Aguante Sarachu y sus clases!!!

[Ρένα Λούνα · Rating 3 out of 5]

«Έκλεβε, λεηλατούσε, εξαπατούσε, αφηνόταν σε όλα τα ναρκωτικά και δεν έχυνε παρά με μεγάλη δυσκολία. Και παρ’ όλα τα μεγάλα γεγονότα της ιστορίας που διαδεχόταν το ένα το άλλο στην κοινωνία:
εκείνος δεν ήξερε ούτε να διαβάζει.
Τι θα μπορούσε να κάνει με όλα μου τα βιβλία;»

Ο Μπράνε Μοζέτιτς, μια ιδιαίτερη lgbtq λογοτεχνική-ποιητική πρόταση, φαίνεται πως σε πολλές χώρες δεν έχει ακουστεί παρά το ποιητικό και συγγραφικό του έργο, τις μεταφράσεις του (μεταξύ άλλων - Ζενέ, Φουκώ και Ρεμπώ), την εκδοτική του δραστηριότητα και τον lgbtq ακτιβισμό του. Φτάνει στα χέρια μας από τις Εκδόσεις Μωβ Σκίουρος σε μετάφραση της ποιήτριας Αγγελική Δημουλή.

Το καλοκαίρι έγραψα για τα Ξένα Γόνατα του Ντίνου Χριστανόπουλου «..με ξεκάθαρη στροφή στην αυτοταπείνωση, ανήσυχος στην επιμονή της ‘διαστροφής’ του. Είναι ένα δυνατό coming out στο χριστιανικό ετεροκανονικό έθνος, κοιτάει τον εαυτό του με αποστροφή και απελπίζεται για την ανάγκη του να ικανοποιήσει (διπλά) μια σοβαρή, σκληρή, πατριαρχική στολή, η οποία φετιχοποιείται εξαιτίας της θεσμικής της εξουσίας.» το οποίο κατά μια έννοια έρχεται να συναντήσει τον Σλοβένο Μοζέτιτς ο οποίος μεταξύ άλλων αναρωτιέται «Γιατί δεν μου αρέσουν οι στρατιώτες; Γιατί;»

Με απλή γλώσσα, συνθετικές μορφές αφήγησης και άπλετη ειρωνεία (βλπ τίτλο), ο Μοζέτιτς μπλέκει ανάλαφρα την ποίηση σε ελεύθερο στίχο με μια δικιά του λογοτεχνική πρόζα· οι τίτλοι του είναι μια μασκαρεμένη πρώτη γραμμή – στίχος – έκφραση. Ξεκινάει απότομα, έχοντας στον μυαλό του κάποιον άντρα που στην πορεία θα αποκαλυφθεί εάν είναι Κόλαση ή Παράδεισος, η λεπτή γραμμή ανάμεσα στην ευτυχία και την κακοποίηση.

Σε κάποια σημεία τρομαχτικός, αλλά στα περισσότερα βαθιά καταθλιπτικός, μέσα στο παρελθόν που οι κοινωνικές στολές εξόρισαν τους Καβάφηδες του κόσμου. Παγιδευμένος μέσα σε ένα ευτυχές παρελθόν που δεν είναι παρά ανάμνηση στο ημίφως: «Οι πληγές μου με καίνε: είναι το μόνο που αισθάνομαι ακόμα» και ακόμα εγκλωβισμένος στο τώρα που θυμίζει ένα αιώνιο ερωτικό εφήμερο βράδυ και όλα όσα αυτό εμπεριέχει: Φευγαλέα ευτυχία και φόβο επιτυχίας.

[Santiago · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Un poemario hermoso, aunque angustiante.
Todos los poemas están narrados en primera persona, invitando al lector a pensar que si el yo lírico no es del todo autobiográfico, entonces tiene fuertes resonancias con el autor.
Asistimos a una búsqueda constante: ya sea para realizarse a uno mismo o para formar vínculos, en relación con esto, también en varios de los textos podemos ver cómo se ilustra la otredad y la clandestinidad del cuerpo LGBT. Una otredad y una clandestinidad impuesta por la sociedad y, tal vez, un poco por nosotros mismos: reducir el contacto solo a lo sexual y quitar de en medio lo sentimental también puede ser dañino. Encontramos también la añoranza por vínculos que no llegaron a desarrollarse como el yo lírico hubiera querido.
Los abuelos campesinos, el rechazo y cómo eso marcó la adultez de nuestro narrador en la ciudad también es una temática presente en la obra.
Hallamos poemas que son más personales (y que hacen a uno pensar que son muy autobiográficos) que hablan de la sociedad sumida en la destrucción y guerra durante finales del siglo XX y, más específicamente, Ljubljana como una ciudad que oprime y asfixia sin permitirnos escapar, incluso cuando nos mudemos.
Una poesía muy fresca, triste, íntima e introspectiva, que refleja muy bien la identidad gay en una sociedad capitalista e individualista.

[Manuel Gil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teño unha sensación un tanto contraditoria con este libro. Creo que as capas máis externas, todo o relacionado coa sexualidade, soa moi a boomer que se queixa de que non pode follar con raparigos de 17 anos. Pero a capa máis interna ten moitísima forza e desacougante diría.
Igual hoxe non era o día para aproximarse a este libro despois da historia contada por Samantha Hudson. Igual o prólogo de Villena é unha clarísima red flag e eu non a puiden ver.

[Lucía · Rating 2 out of 5]

es que no se puede soportar la poesía mala la poesía es o cinco estrellas o 0 funciona o no funciona no es como la prosa no conoce las medias tintas
para exposición lit eslovena con sarachu

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANALITIES: Poems from the exciting Brane Mozetic

Brane Mozetic is a highly regarded writer and poet in his home country of Slovenia and his works, such as the 50 poems collected here under the title 'BANALITIES', have been translated successfully by Elizabeta Zargi and Timothy Liu. Mozetic, interestingly enough, not only writes books in English ('Butterfly', 'Passion', and 'Lost Story'), but has also translated other authors including Genet, Rimbaud, and Foucault. Why this particular powerful collection of poems was not originally written in English may be due to the content and subject matter: these poems seem very personal, dealing with Brane Mozetic 's sexuality and a rather dark side of his mind. In his native Ljubljana he is a gay activist and is a leader in that vein of literature. Perhaps with the translation of this excellent collection of poems the power of his statements will be carried abroad.

First readings of these poems suggest the mind of a man in friction with the world around him. Frustrated attempts to connect in meaningful relationships despite the insatiable need not to sleep alone lead to nocturnal wanderings in bars and clubs observing the dark behavior that at once repulses and attracts him, attempted communication with bed partners more interested in drugs and immediate gratification than in tenderness. Example, in Poem 32:

As the day grew closer to an end, I felt more
alone. As though the light was meant for
the big wide world, for great self-confident moves. Really,
I always become involved with someone in the evening, or at night,
in the darkness. As tough I were afraid of falling asleep alone.
But it's only sleep; I don't need anyone then.
He might disturb me, push me, steal the covers,
wake me.....Perhaps I
should face the fact that even my long-term
loves, if I could call them that,
are tied to this, to these evenings and nights. And
did they have the exact same motives?....

Other poems echo this clash between seeking pleasure and the futility of it all, between expecting excitement and finding depression and melancholy. Happy poems these are not, but they are masterfully written and convey a strong sense of gut level feeling form the mind of one who understands unwanted solitude. Reading BANALITIES makes the reader hungry to explore the novels of Brane Mozetic. He is obviously a gifted writer.

Grady Harp

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANALITIES: Poems from the exciting Brane Mozetic

Brane Mozetic is a highly regarded writer and poet in his home country of Slovenia and his works, such as the 50 poems collected here under the title 'BANALITIES', have been translated successfully by Elizabeta Zargi and Timothy Liu. Mozetic, interestingly enough, not only writes books in English ('Butterfly', 'Passion', and 'Lost Story'), but has also translated other authors including Genet, Rimbaud, and Foucault. Why this particular powerful collection of poems was not originally written in English may be due to the content and subject matter: these poems seem very personal, dealing with Brane Mozetic 's sexuality and a rather dark side of his mind. In his native Ljubljana he is a gay activist and is a leader in that vein of literature. Perhaps with the translation of this excellent collection of poems the power of his statements will be carried abroad.

First readings of these poems suggest the mind of a man in friction with the world around him. Frustrated attempts to connect in meaningful relationships despite the insatiable need not to sleep alone lead to nocturnal wanderings in bars and clubs observing the dark behavior that at once repulses and attracts him, attempted communication with bed partners more interested in drugs and immediate gratification than in tenderness. Example, in Poem 32:

As the day grew closer to an end, I felt more
alone. As though the light was meant for
the big wide world, for great self-confident moves. Really,
I always become involved with someone in the evening, or at night,
in the darkness. As tough I were afraid of falling asleep alone.
But it's only sleep; I don't need anyone then.
He might disturb me, push me, steal the covers,
wake me.....Perhaps I
should face the fact that even my long-term
loves, if I could call them that,
are tied to this, to these evenings and nights. And
did they have the exact same motives?....

Other poems echo this clash between seeking pleasure and the futility of it all, between expecting excitement and finding depression and melancholy. Happy poems these are not, but they are masterfully written and convey a strong sense of gut level feeling form the mind of one who understands unwanted solitude. Reading BANALITIES makes the reader hungry to explore the novels of Brane Mozetic. He is obviously a gifted writer.

Grady Harp

[Jennifer Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but interesting collection of poems that's sad, dark, and often unsettling. As the description says, much of it focuses on pain. Through the works of the poet, it's clear that he is in pain and suffering, and at times it's a quiet, inner pain, other times he projects that pain onto others, and still other times he sees the pain in another person completely untouched by him. There is a lot of sexuality as well, some darkly sensual, so it's not a collection for everyone, but it's good nonetheless.

[Bono]

Teška, mučna poezija. Jedan osebujan, fragmentaran rukopis koji odražava diskrepanciju između zaziranja od riječi u stvarnom životu i pričljivosti u pjesničkom rukopisu. Mozetič je nihilist, no iz toga ne treba zaključiti da je to nužno loše jer uviđanje da ništa nije sudbinsko otvara prostor slobode i postavlja iskustvo, kakvo god ono bilo, kao mjeru svih stvari. Ne bih se složio s uvidom da je Mozetič u sukobu sa svijetom, on je primarno u sukobu sa samim sobom, a sukob je sa svijetom samo posljedica ovog prvog. Postoje snovi o bijegu, ali bijega nema, osim smrti, no i ona je pjesniku nešto čega se plaši. Ljubav ne izbavlja jer je svedena na erotiku, govor ne iscjeluje jer je isprazan, obitelj ne pomaže jer je dijelom uzrok depresivnosti. Snažan, životan rukopis, zapljuskuje čitatelja mukom, bolom.

[Frank Karioris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am looking forward to his reading this coming Thursday. Am hoping to find a copy of his new book Unfinished Sketches of a Revolution.

[Nia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surovo in brezkompromisno ha.