'Call Tomorrow': A Testimony on Writing with Borges

The author shares a personal account of collaborating with the legendary writer Jorge Luis Borges on a prologue for Shakespeare. The experience, though revealing, was marked by the author's initial struggle to establish a working relationship with Borges.

"Call tomorrow," Borges would often say, creating a cycle of anticipation and repeated attempts to connect. The author recounts the frustration of this arbitrary schedule but also the eventual breakthrough when Borges unexpectedly invited them to come immediately. This led to a breakfast meeting where Borges, seated with his bowl of cereal on a tablecloth resembling the British flag, was ready to work.

The author describes Borges as a genius, someone whose persona was intrinsically linked to his writing. They recall a previous encounter twenty years earlier at the National Library, where they discussed the works of Ascasubi and the timidity of porteños. This collaboration, however, proved to be the most significant period of their intellectual formation, surpassing even their experience as Borges's student in English literature.

Working at Borges's mother's table, with a photograph of a baby Borges nearby, the author typed phrases that seemed to materialize before being written. Borges, meanwhile, would muse aloud, making the author feel indispensable. He consistently sought the author's opinion, asking, "Do you think it's better this way?" fostering a sense of critical partnership.

Borges often repeated anecdotes, unable to rewrite his life. The author reflects on these repetitions, particularly Borges's recollection of returning by tram from the Miguel Cané library, reading Dante's Divine Comedy. This image evoked feelings of despair and the contemplation of whether endeavors are worthwhile, ultimately connecting Borges to a profound happiness found in books. Borges himself mused, "I thought that one day everything would be different."

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