Monday, May 18, 2009

Poetry

Today is a sad day for the Latin community that likes poetry. Today Mario Benedetti had day. He was considered one of Latin America's most important 20th-century writers. You can fin more information about him here.






I remember in my teens years, I use to read his books all the time and had a journal with all his poems. When I felt sad because of some boyfriend or very happy because I was in love, I always read his poems.

I try my best to translate his poems to English, I hope I did well. But I will post the Spanish version because they have more meaning for me.
I hope you like them...

Tactics and Strategy

My tactic is
look at you
learn how you are
love you as you are.

My tactic is
talk
and listen to you
build with word
an indestructible bridge.

My tactic is
stay in your memory
I do not know how or
what pretext to use
but stay in you.

My tactic is
be frank
and know that you are honest
and we do not sell
mock
so that between the two are
no curtain
or depths.

My strategy is
instead
deeper and more
simple.

My strategy is that any day
I do not know how or
with what pretext
you will finally need me.


Táctica y estrategia

Mi táctica es
mirarte
aprender como sos
quererte como sos.

Mi táctica es
hablarte
y escucharte
construir con palabras
un puente indestructible.

Mi táctica es
quedarme en tu recuerdo
no sé cómo ni sé
con qué pretexto
pero quedarme en vos.

Mi táctica es
ser franco
y saber que sos franca
y que no nos vendamos
simulacros
para que entre los dos

no haya telón
ni abismos.

Mi estrategia es
en cambio
más profunda y más
simple.

Mi estrategia es
que un día cualquiera
no sé cómo ni sé
con qué pretexto
por fin me necesites.



I love you

Your hands are my caress,
my everyday chords;
I love you because your hands
working for justice.

If I love you is because you are
my love, my partner, and everything.
And on the street side by side
We are more than two.

Your eyes are my spell
against a bad day;
I love you because your eyes
watch and seed future.

Your mouth that is yours and mine,
Your mouth is not wrong;
I love you because your mouth
knows how to yell rebelliousness.

If I love you is because you are
my partner, my love and everything.
And on the street side by side
We are more than two.

And for your honest face .
And your bum step.
And you cry for the world.
Because you are people I love you.

And because love is not aurora,
candid moral,
and because we are partners
who knows that we are not alone.

I want you in my paradise;
I want you in my country
where people live happily
even if there is not permit.

If I love is because you are
my love, my partner and everything.
And on the street side by side
We are more than two.

Te quiero

Tus manos son mi caricia,
mis acordes cotidianos;
te quiero porque tus manos
trabajan por la justicia.

Si te quiero es porque sos
mi amor, mi cómplice, y todo.
Y en la calle codo a codo
somos mucho más que dos.

Tus ojos son mi conjuro
contra la mala jornada;
te quiero por tu mirada
que mira y siembra futuro.

Tu boca que es tuya y mía,
Tu boca no se equivoca;
te quiero por que tu boca
sabe gritar rebeldía.

Si te quiero es porque sos
mi amor mi cómplice y todo.
Y en la calle codo a codo
somos mucho más que dos.

Y por tu rostro sincero.
Y tu paso vagabundo.
Y tu llanto por el mundo.
Porque sos pueblo te quiero.

Y porque amor no es aurora,
ni cándida moraleja,
y porque somos pareja
que sabe que no está sola.

Te quiero en mi paraíso;
es decir, que en mi país
la gente vive feliz
aunque no tenga permiso.

Si te quiero es por que sos
mi amor, mi cómplice y todo.
Y en la calle codo a codo
somos mucho más que dos.


If you like his work you can find more poems here and you can use the google translator to read them in English.
Have a wonderful day!
Paola