The Infinite Loop / El Lazo Infinito

This graceful bilingual English and Spanish collection by Cuban poet González (La Ciudad Promisoria) allows a unique comparison of diction and syntax across languages as it explores themes of pain, love, self-reflection, and hope. Divided into three sections—“The Loop,” “Facing the Mirror,” and “The Other and I”—the volume engages with light and darkness, joy, and seduction through lyrical and symbolic phrases: “The birth of light,/ calmness,/ forsakenness/ happen where I am.// It could not be simpler.// Here the flight:/ clarity and substance./ Him. He discovers my enthusiasm.” González blends sensory imagery with abstract ideas, creating a sense of depth and complexity throughout, inviting readers to contemplate the nuances of life and the beauty found in its simplest moments: “I appreciate this coffee and this silence” (“The Trains of Silence”). The collection’s bilingual nature and skillful English translations enrich the reading experience while bridging cultural and linguistic barriers. Readers will be struck by the universal appeal of González’s poems. (Dec.)