Connor and Jack discuss a deceptively simple poem full of interwoven contradictions - Humberto Ak'abal's "The Altar." They discuss the multiple layers of linguistic conquest implicit in a poem that has moved from K'iche' to Spanish to English, the history of Guatemala and US involvement in the country's political affairs, and ponder the big questions posed by the poems little candles. More on Ak'abal, here: https://www.akabal.com/ Read the poem in K'iche', Spanish, and English, here: https://www.akabal.com/poems/thealtar.html The Altar By: Humberto Ak’abal The shadows light their candles. The night is the altar, the silence is the prayer. And just moments before dawn, with one little breath the wind puts them out. Find us at our website: www.closetalking.com/ Find us on Facebook at: facebook.com/closetalking  Find us on Twitter at: twitter.com/closetalking  Find us on Instagram: @closetalkingpoetry You can always send us an e-mail with thoughts on this or any of our previous podcasts, as well as suggestions for future shows, at [email protected].

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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