El Camisón de Pepa

Pepa's Nightgown

El Camisón de Pepa

Pepa has a nightgownPepa tiene un camisón
that dances only one dance,que baila solo una danza,
makes her belly smallle hace chiquita la panza
when she tightens the beltcuando aprieta el cinturón
she doesn't have a single buttonya no tiene ni un botón
to tighten the rod,para apretar la varilla,
she has a hole in the kneetiene un roto en la rodilla
and in another worse place.y en otro sitio peor.
Pepa's nightgownEl camisón de Pepa
has a story. In Havanatiene historia. En la Habana
won the grand prizeganó el premio mayor
with its uniquenesscon su singularidad
it's not made of fabric or silkno es de tela ni es de seda
nor is it an imperial dress.ni es un vestido imperial.
It gives her a figure on the streetPor la calle le hace un talle
that they shout as they pass by:que le gritan al pasar:
How pretty Pepa looks¡Qué bonita se ve Pepa
in her nightgown,con su camisón,
walking through the Alamedapaseando por la Alameda
and along the Malecón!y por el Malecón!
How pretty!¡Qué bonita!