SOURCE: "Confluences," in Review, No. 74, Fall, 1974, pp. 6-16.

In the following excerpt, Lezama Lima discusses his theory of poetics and philosophical views in regard to the creation of the plot and characters of Paradiso.

I saw night as a descent, as if something had fallen over the earth. Its slowness kept me from comparing it, for example, to something descending a staircase. One tide atop another, and so on incessantly, until it came within reach of my feet. I united the fall of night with the sea's unique extension.

The cars' headlights shone through in zigzagging planes and the "who goes theres?" began to be heard. The voices skipped from one sentry box to the next. The night began to be peopled, to be nourished. From afar, I saw it crossed by ceaseless points of light. Subdivided, fragmented, pierced by the voices and lights. I was far off...