Milonga de Albornoz

Albornoz's Milonga

Milonga de Albornoz

Someone has already counted the days.Alguien ya contó los días.
Someone already knows the time.Alguien ya sabe la hora.
Someone for whom there areAlguien para Quien no hay
neither rush nor delay.ni premuras ni demora.
Albornoz walks by whistlingAlbornoz pasa silbando
an Entrerrian milonga;una milonga entrerriana;
under the brim of his hatbajo el ala del chambergo
his eyes see the morning.sus ojos ven la mañana.

The morning of this dayLa mañana de este día
of eighteen ninety;del ochocientos noventa;
in the Retiro neighborhooden el bajo del Retiro
they have already lost countya le han perdido la cuenta
of loves and card gamesde amores y de trucadas
until dawn and of skirmisheshasta el alba y de entreveros
with the sergeants,a fierro con los sargentos,
with locals and strangers.con propios y forasteros.

More than one tough guy and more than one crookSe la tienen bien jurada
have it in for him;más de un taura y más de un pillo;
in a corner in the southen una esquina del sur
a knife is waiting for him.lo está esperando un cuchillo.
Not one knife but threeNo un cuchillo sino tres
before daybreak,antes de clarear el día,
they came at himse le vinieron encima
and the man defended himself.y el hombre se defendía.

A blade entered his chest,Un acero entró en el pecho,
he didn't flinch;ni se le movió la cara;
Alejo Albornoz diedAlejo Albornoz murió
as if he didn't care.como si no le importara.
I think he would likePienso que le gustaría
to know that today his storysaber que hoy anda su historia
is in a milonga. Timeen una milonga. El tiempo
is forgetfulness and memory.es olvido y es memoria.