Modest Proposition to Renounce Making Spin the Hydraulic Wheel of a Cyclical Universal History of Infamy

Abstract

Poet Lois Pereiro was born in the Spanish region of Galicia and lived between 1958 and 1996. Until today, his texts have not been edited in Portuguese. This Modest proposition to renounce making spin the hydraulic wheel of a cyclical universal history of infamy is a sort of prolix pamphlet or political-poetic manifesto, built on intertextual dialogue, in which Pereiro marks his political position and at the same time engages in a dialogue with writers and activists. Among the least known names to the lusophone reader are those of Galician intellectuals (such as Alfonso Castelao, Alexandre Bóveda e Ricardo Mella), in addition to Emilio Ferreiro, the great Galician social poet. There is even a direct reference to the Galician anthem. The title dialogues with the idea of cyclical time and with Jonathan Swift, Jorge Luis Borges and Bertolt Brecht. From the latter, Pereiro collects quotations that function as epigraphs of the parts into which the work is divided. Pereiro's Modest proposition was originally published in Luzes de Galiza, a magazine that featured Galician poetry from that period, in addition to promoting international poetry. The text in which this translation is based is the one published by Espiral Maior. The translation and comments were written according to the Brazilian variant of the Portuguese language. Small corrections and changes in the punctuation were made. Beyond strictly political engagement, the aim of this translation is to propose a dialogue between the Galician world and the lusophone world. The text is preceded by some comments about the translation process.