Living Psalm 32
Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.
Salmo 32: una monografía
A veces
la dicha es un error.
Como cuando Pereira,
en la novela de Tabucchi,
encontró a un hombre
asesinado sobre las sandías
y las carretas de limonada
o cuando le hablaba
a la foto de su difunta esposa
y cruzaba por la ventana
una brisa atlántica.
Hay dichas que no lo son;
errores que
simplemente no borran.
La masa furibunda
que en la plaza de comidas
le tiró con sillas
al individuo que acababa
de apuñalar a su novia
mientras trabajaba.
El hombre que encontraron
muerto en una barriada
al otro día
de apuñalar
a otra mujer.
La mujer que flotaba
ahogada,
la barcaza rota
en la ensenada
y la misma brisa atlántica,
el cuerpo de espaldas
fatigado
al fin no mira el sol.
No es la dicha
es que pesa tu mano
y se seca la tierra.
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Psalm 32: A monograph
Sometimes
happiness is a mistake.
Like when Pereira,
in Tabucchi’s novel,
found a murdered man
among the watermelons
and the lemonade carts,
or when he was talking
to the photo of his dead wife
and an Atlantic breeze blew through the window.
There are joys that aren’t joys;
mistakes that
simply can’t be erased.
The furious mob in the food court
that threw chairs at
the man who had just
stabbed his girlfriend
while she was working.
The man found
dead in a slum
the day after
stabbing
another woman.
The woman floating,
drowning,
the broken barge
in the inlet,
and the same Atlantic breeze,
the body on its back
tired,
finally, no longer sees the sun.
It’s not happiness,
it’s that your hand is heavy
and the earth dries up.
Living Psalm 32 was written by Alex Maldonado.
Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor
Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.
© Copyright 2025 Alex Maldonado Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.
