- Miguel Huezo Mixco

SI LA MUERTE

Si la muerte viene y pregunta por mi
haga el favor
de decirle que vuelva mañana
que todavia no he cancelado mis deudas
ni he terminado un poema
ni me he despedido de nadie
ni he ordenado mi ropa para el viaje
ni he llevado a su destino el encargo ajeno
ni he echado llave en mis gavetas
ni he dicho lo que debia decir a los amigos
ni he sentido el olor de la rosa que no ha nacido
ni he desenterrado mis raices
ni he escrito una carta pendiente
que si siquiera me he lavado las manos
ni he conocido un hijo
ni he empredido caminatas en paises desconocidos
ni conozco los siete velos del mar
ni la canción del marino
Si la muerte viniera
diga por favor que estoy entendido
y que me haga una espera
que no he dado a mi novia ni un beso de despedida
que no he repartido mi mano con las de mi familia
ni he desempolvado los libros
ni he silbado la canción preferida
ni me he reconciliado con los enemigos
digale que no he probado el suicidio
ni he visto libre a mi gente
digale si viene que vuelva mañana
que no es que le tema pero ni siquiera
he empezado a andar el camino

IF DEATH...
(translated by Claribel Alegria and Darwin J.Flakoll)

If death should come asking for me
do me the favor
of telling him to come back tomorrow
because I still haven't paid my debts
nor finished a poem
nor said goodbye to anyone
nor prepared clothing for the trip
nor delivered that package I promised to
nor locked up my desk drawers
nor told my friends what I should have
nor sniffed the fragrance of the unborn rose
nor laid bare my roots
nor answered an overdue letter
because I haven't even washed my hands
or known a son
or gone hiking in unknown countries
nor do i know the sea's seven sails
nor the song of mariners
If death should come
please tell him I understand
and to wait a bit
because I haven't kissed my sweetheart goodbye
nor shaken hands with my family
nor dusted my books
nor whistled my favorite song
nor become reconcilied with my enemies
tell him I haven't yet attempted suicide
nor seen my people freed
tell him if he comes to return tomorrow
that it's not because i fear him but because
I haven't even set off along the road.