by David Bowles
escucha este canto, Listen to this song,
que todos tus hijos, The one your children
convierten en llanto. Transform into weeping.
Tú que por tu hijos, You who live praying
vives implorando, On your children’s behalf,
en ti madrecita, It’s you, dearest Mother,
vivimos pensando. That we live thinking of.
Recibe el cariño, Accept the affection
de todos tus hijos, Of all of your children
que nunca en la vida, Who could never, ever,
podrán olvidarte. Forget about you.
Sí estás escuchando, If you’re listening,
podrás alegrarte, You can feel joy,
que todos tus hijos, Because all of your children
vienen a cantarte. Have come here to sing.
Tú nombre es María, Your name is Maria,
y no hallan que darte, And no gift is enough,
se sienten dichosos, We feel fortunate simply
al felicitarte. To congratúlate and praise you.
Te quiero, Juan Ángel . Tu madre te quiere mucho—I love you, Juan Ángel. Your mother loves you very much.
Chapter 19
pero ni modo— but, oh, well!
Perdóname— Forgive me
Ya— enough already
¿Qué pasa, amor? —What’s the matter, dear?
Chapter 20
¿Qué fregados?— What the heck?
¿Bueno? — Hello?
Se alza como una leona— She rises like a lioness.
Ah, cómo serán de tercos los dos— Ah, you two just have to be stubborn.
Raised in an ethnically diverse family in south Texas, David Bowles spends most of his days writing, researching, and teaching at a local university. Bowles is author of several books, including Border Lore, The Seed, Mexican Bestiary, and Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Mayan Poetry, which was awarded the 2014 Soeurette Diehl Frasier Award for Best Translation by the Texas Institute of Letters.
