A fresh chastising wind that sweeps dead leaves of words into the gutter...
Proyecto de tren instantaneo entre Santiago y Puerto Montt by Nicanor Parra, Translated by T Wignesan
(Homage to Nicanor PARRA, 1914-2018, the Chilean ANTI-POET, winner of the "Cervantes Prize" (the highest literary honour for writers in Spanish), four times nominated for the Nobel Prize, studied Physics (Brown University), Cosmology (Oxford University) and taught maths and physics for some 40 years, but styles himself as the Poet who writes "Anti-Poems" - a fresh
chastising wind to debunk self-styled poets hardly born to the métier but drunk with their own effete and ephemeral voices. T. Wignesan, Paris, 2016.)
The Anatomy of the Instantaneous Train (plying) between Santiago and Puerto Montt
The engine of the instantaneous train
occupies the place of the destination (Puerto Montt)
while the last coach
straddles the station of departure (Santiago)
This type of train affords the passenger
the advantage of arriving instantaneously at Puerto Montt
at the very moment he boards the last coach
in Santiago
The rub is: in order to continue voyaging
the traveller has to keep moving with his luggage
through the train
until he gains the first coach
Once the passage has been realized
the passenger may proceed to exit
the instantaneous train
which has remained stationary
during the entire voyage.
•Observation: This type of (direct) train serves only the uni-directional journey.
Source: Poem read by Nicanor Parra as invitee to the International Poetry Festival in the Netherands in 1989 (?)
Glad you loved the astrophysicist "anti-poet"'s conundrum (I posted two other "anti-poems" of his already), Ron, something I thought would be right down your lane as an innovative science- man yourself.
Do I believe Clarke's idea of an elevator into space feasible? Just check on my comment on Judy Joy Jones's interview of the eloquent Japanese cosmologist Michio Kaku in her radio programme - lasts some hour and a half and absolutely absorbing every minute of it ! (The interviewers' voices close up to the micro-phone could be quit somewhat "interpolating" though) He envisions precisely such an elevator. Epatant, non???
Incidentally, the train's uni-directional: from Santiago to Puerto Montt. Unless another rail track facing Santiago happened to be laid, there would be no "coming"; only just "going" would be possible, but I do like your idea of "many sleeper cars and diners to accommodate the passengers". Why not, after all...one has to marvel at your imagination: "cow catcher stuck in moon green cheese" without which there would be no dessert on board. How thoughtful of you, Ron. How about dancing girls to entertain the passengers as well??? Every good wish. Wignesan
I love it! Also could be called, Long, Long Train. Makes me want to construct one that will go from the earth to the moon. I will make it a steam engine that burns no coal because it isn't going anywhere, its cow catcher stuck in moon green cheese. But there would be many sleeper cars and diners to accommodate the passengers going or coming.
Rather mind-boggling, but entirely build able. A conundrum of economies of scale.
Ron
PS. Do you believe that Arthur C Clarke's idea of an elevator to space is feasible?
Dear readers, this is my third book of poems, and inside are a special collection of what have turned out to be not only MY personal favorites, but also the favorites of many of YOU. Some of these have never been available in print before...
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Do I believe Clarke's idea of an elevator into space feasible? Just check on my comment on Judy Joy Jones's interview of the eloquent Japanese cosmologist Michio Kaku in her radio programme - lasts some hour and a half and absolutely absorbing every minute of it ! (The interviewers' voices close up to the micro-phone could be quit somewhat "interpolating" though) He envisions precisely such an elevator. Epatant, non???
Incidentally, the train's uni-directional: from Santiago to Puerto Montt. Unless another rail track facing Santiago happened to be laid, there would be no "coming"; only just "going" would be possible, but I do like your idea of "many sleeper cars and diners to accommodate the passengers". Why not, after all...one has to marvel at your imagination: "cow catcher stuck in moon green cheese" without which there would be no dessert on board. How thoughtful of you, Ron. How about dancing girls to entertain the passengers as well??? Every good wish. Wignesan
Rather mind-boggling, but entirely build able. A conundrum of economies of scale.
Ron
PS. Do you believe that Arthur C Clarke's idea of an elevator to space is feasible?