Charles Simic (Belgrado, Yugoslavia, 1938/ EEUU)

 

 

IMPERIOS

 

Mi abuela profetizó el final

de vuestros imperios, ¡oh, imbéciles!

Estaba planchando, con la radio encendida.

La tierra temblaba bajo nuestros pies.

 

Uno de vuestros héroes pronunciaba un discurso.

"Monstruo", lo llamó.

Hubo ovaciones y salvas de disparos para el monstruo.

"Lo mataría con mis propias manos",

me hizo saber ella.

 

No era necesario. Todos ellos

se irían al infierno tarde o temprano.

"No le cuentes esto a nadie",

me advirtió.

Y me tiró de la oreja para asegurarse de que había entendido.

 

 

 

___________________

en "A Wedding in Hell", Harcourt Brace, Nueva York, 1994. Versión de Jonio González. 

 

 

 

EMPIRES

 

My grandmother prophesied the end

Of your empires, oh fools!

She was ironing. The radio was on.

The earth trembled beneath our feet.

 

One of your heroes was giving a speech.

"Monster," she called him.

There were cheers and gun salutes for the monster.

"I could kill him with my bare hands,"

She announced to me.

 

There was no need to. They were all

Going to the devil any day now.

"Don't go blabbering with about this to anyone,"

She warned me.

And pulled my ear to make sure I understood.

 

***

 

(Fuente: Jonio González)