2013-09-17 Poem to F.

And recount the times it hasn’t happened

About how close you were left

How far you could have been

How wrong you always were

there are things that do not change

Reality dwells behind your gaze

But memories play hide and seek

When you count to one hundred

The game is over

We all run for the afternoon snack

Winning doesn’t matter anymore

It is not for the time, nor for the hunger

Mom rules

You obey

They taught you how to behave

Take the crumbs off your shirt

Aren’t you old enough for nonsense

They remind you every birthday

With amazement

Until it’s rude

Only the poor eat bread in that way

With pleasure

Every bite is new

is life

Now you travel by train

Sometimes first class

Until the ticket collector arrives

Looking like Swedish is valid in Haiti11

Where smiles are the (only) most precious asset

In India they ride on the roof of the wagon

Mom rules

You obey

You smile

You always learn something new

Where is the school

When you look out the window at the PE class

Life is going on as normally as ever


Carlos,

When you email me at three in the afternoon, something will go wrong. “Reality dwells behind your gaze.

Write every day, whenever you can. “And recount the times it hasn’t happened.”

I go to sleep. Sweet Europe. You must update me on your course. When are you starting, at least. Until the ticket collector arrives. And you get the best grades.

Health.


Y cuenta las veces que no ha ocurrido

De lo cerca que te quedaste

Lo lejos que pudiste estar

Lo equivocado que siempre estuviste

Hay cosas que no cambian

La realidad habita tras tu mirada

Pero los recuerdos juegan al escondite

Cuando cuentas hasta cien

El juego se ha acabado

Todos corremos a por la merienda

Ya no importa ganar

No es ni por la hora, ni por el hambre

Mamá manda

Tú obedece

Te enseñaron a comportarte

Quítate las migas de la camisa

No eres ya mayorcito para tonterías

Te lo recuerdan cada cumpleaños

Con asombro

Hasta que es descortés

Solo los pobres comen pan de esa manera

Con placer

Cada bocado es nuevo

es vida

Ahora viajas en tren

A veces en primera clase

Hasta que llega el revisor

Hacerse el sueco es válido en Haití

Donde las sonrisas son el (único) bien más preciado

En India viajan en el techo del vagón

Mamá manda

Tú obedece

Sonríes

Siempre aprendes algo nuevo

Donde queda el colegio

Cuando miras por la ventana la clase de educación física

Life is going on as normally as ever


  1. In Spanish Hacerse el sueco means To play dumb