TRÁNSITO/TRANSIT

Transposed in imagery, life, and language, poet Claudina Domingo brings the hustling, solitary, and communal life of Mexico City out of the streets and bars into this magnificent book that is TRÁNSITO/TRANSIT.

Stuck in the loop of mundanity comes these living poems to remind one that there are places not only to see, but feel, smell, taste, and hear. Domingo’s poetry urges us to not gouge ourselves from the lives we live. Yes, at times the places we inhabit can be overwhelming or stale, but Domingo’s eyes remind us to rub our own and see past the spell of our selfishness and appreciate the land, people, and cultures we find ourselves roaming through to get to where we need to go.

This collection of work, at times, magnifies Mexico City as well as expands it across borders and delivers the truth of what it is to slow down and record the places we have, do, or will spend our time. They remind us why we love our cities, why we fear them, and most importantly, why we remember them. These poems are not geographical poems. They are in constant movement following every turn, opening every door, and walking down every alley. They encapsulate the sounds in the air and the silence that follows. As readers we are transported to a place some of us have never been (and now want to go) and where some of us are from (and now want to return).

Greene’s translation acts as an extended celebration of Domingo’s poems. It is apparent while reading this collection, that Domingo’s attention to detail does not stop in the poeticizing of Mexico City. The language is particular and Greene’s translations follow suit by treating language as Domingo treats her poems—with focus and tenderness.

Do yourself a favor and let Domingo and Greene guide you through the brightest and darkest parts of a city that is immortalized in this book.

Carlos Quinteros III

Managing Editor & Poetry Editor