Butterflies all over the world must have fluttered in ecstasy and delight on May 4th, 2012, for this day two magnificent women, who are an immense inspiration in my life, came together in a very special way. On that Friday, a press conference for Patti Smith’s first show in Mexico was held at “La Casa Azul”, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s residence located in Coyoacán in my native México City. Patti performed a couple of songs in their honor and left a beautiful poem for Frida, inspired on a butterfly collection that friend and architect Isamu Noguchi gave her many years ago, which hangs on the ceiling of Frida’s night bed.
These butterflies undoubtedly served as muses for many of her works, provided comfort on sleepless nights, and they inspired Patti to write the following (I include a translation in Spanish):
Noguchi’s Butterflies
I can not walk
I can not see
Further than what
Is in front of me
I lay on my back
yet I do not cry
Transported in space by the butterflies.
Above my bed
Another sky
With the wings you sent
Within my sight
All pain dissolves
In another light
Transported thru
Time
By the butterfly
This little song
Came to me
Like a little gift as I stood
Beside the bed of Frida.
I give it to you with much love,
Patti Smith
Las mariposas de Noguchi
No puedo caminar
No puedo ver
Más allá de lo que está enfrente de mí
Me recuesto aunque no lloro
Me transporto en el espacio por las mariposas.
Sobre mi cama
Otro cielo
Con las alas que enviaste
A mi vista
Todo el dolor se disuelve en otra luz
Transportada a través del tiempo por la mariposa
Me llegó está cancioncita
Como un pequeño regalo,
Mientras estaba parada junto a la cama de Frida.
Se las regalo con mucho amor,
Patti Smith