Three Variations on the Theme of Peace and the Dove

Three Variations on the Theme
of Peace and the Dove
I

So great is the peace of one dove
that the experts on peace say
one dove alone would be enough
to spread over the earth all the peace
that humans search for without knowing.

II

So many are the doves of peace
that the experts on doves say
one peace alone would be needed
to attract all the doves
which hopelessly search for the human.

III

If peace clothed itself as a dove
say the experts on humans,
one peace alone would be sufficient
to give its wings to the earth
making the human a dove.

Rei Berroa, República Dominicana/USA

Translated by Ana Alonso & Rei Berroa

From “Son palomas pensajeras”, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala: Metáfora, 2016