The Hummingbird

El Colibrí

This morning broughtTrajo esta mañana
A lovely telegramLindo telegrama
An eager hummingbirdUn ansioso colibrí
Told me that the sapMe decía que la savia
From insects and frogsDe insectos y ranas
Announced the end.Anunciaba el fin.

I saw through the windowVi por la ventana
Illicit swarmsIlícitos enjambres
As if it were a hurricaneCual si fuera un huracán
They distributed their bannerRepartían su pancarta
With great fanfareCon gran algazara
For that truth.Por esa verdad.

A tremor of squirrelsUn tremor de ardillas
On alert and watchfulDe alerta y vigilia
That something is about to happenQue algo esta por suceder
Then a hidden wordLuego una palabra oculta
That jumped nakedQue saltó desnuda
Made me understand.Me hizo comprender.

I went out, like the sun I went outSalí, como el sol yo salí
To the lively squareA la plaza encendida
Of people, colorsDe gentes, colores
Shouting happily.Gritando feliz.

I ran to the sea and lookedCorrí hasta el mar y miré
After the fish cameTras los peces venían
The living shipwrecksLos náufragos vivos
That I lost yesterday.Que ayer yo perdí.

Restless birdsPájaros inquietos
Guarded fireCustodiaron fuego
During the darknessDurante la oscuridad
Under the arch of their wingsBajo el arco de sus alas
The longing made me lightMe hizo luz el ansia
To want to shine.De querer brillar.

Wandering lostErrantes perdidos
Poor of free willPobres de albedrío
Condemned to wanderCondenados a rumbear
They leave exileAbandonan el destierro
Sharing the skyCompartiendo el cielo
They fly back.Vuelven a volar.

I went out like the sun I went outSalí como el sol yo salí
To the lively squareA la plaza encendida
Of people, colorsDe gentes, colores
Shouting happily.Gritando feliz.

I ran to the seaCorrí hasta el mar
And looked after the fishY miré tras los peces
The living shipwrecks cameVenían los náufragos vivos
That I lost yesterday.Que ayer yo perdí.

I danced, with the air I dancedBailé, con el aire bailé
As the cells openedAl abrirse las celdas
And seeing my father returnY ver a mi padre volver
I cried, I danced.Lloré, bailé.