Poetry in Motion
New York
Hermandad / Brotherhood
Octavio Paz![A black horizontal poster with a colorful mosaic at the top features a poem titled Hermandad, by Octavio Paz in red text. On the right side, the poem has been translated from Spanish to English and is titled, Brotherhood.](https://poetrysociety.org/assets/poetry-in-motion/Octavio-Paz-NYC-Poetry-in-Motion.jpeg)
Hermandad
Homenaje a Claudio Ptolomeo
Soy hombre: duro poco
y es enorme la noche.
Pero miro hacia arriba:
las estrellas escriben.
Sin entender comprendo:
también soy escritura
y en este mismo instante
alguien me deletrea.
Brotherhood
Homage to Claudius Ptolemy
I am a man: little do I last
and the night is enormous.
But I look up:
the stars write.
Unknowing I understand:
I too am written,
and at this very moment
someone spells me out.
MTA New York Transit authority in cooperation with the Poetry Society of America.