Natural History

Beloved by lovers of poetry across the globe, José Watanabe (1946–2007) is one of Peru’s most celebrated twentieth-century poets. Of his variegated repertoire, which includes articles, screenplays, and children’s books, Watanabe is best known for his seven original books of poetry, of which Natural History is the first to be rendered into English. Here, the starkly lyrical poems are presented in dual-language format and alongside pen-and-ink drawings by the Lima-based artist Eduardo Tokeshi, which appeared in the original Spanish-language volume. This book is an essential contribution to global discussions about nature writing, Spanish-language poetry, the literary and physical landscapes of Peru, Indigenous culture, and Asian migration across the Americas.

Excerpt from "In the Dry Riverbed"

But I walk with odd levity,
neither wounded nor guilty,
up the riverbed
from whose high walls bulge roots of willows. I chew them
and their bitter flavor is the one resistance I come across
as I move against the current