Milonga de Calandria

Calandria's Milonga

Milonga de Calandria

Servando Cardoso the nameServando Cardoso el nombre
and No Calandria the nickname;y No Calandria el apodo;
they will not be able to forgetno lo sabrán olvidar
the years, that forget everything.los años, que olvidan todo.

He wasn't one of those scientistsNo era un científico de esos
who use a gun;que usan arma de gatillo;
it was his pleasure to risk himselfera su gusto jugarse
in the knife dance.en el baile del cuchillo.

How many times in MontielCuántos veces en Montiel
the dawn must have seen himlo habrá visto la alborada
in the arms of a womanen brazos de una mujer
already taken and forgotten.ya tenida y ya olvidada.

The weapon of his passionEl arma de su afición
was the caronero knife.era el facón caronero.
The Christian and the steelFueron una sola cosa
were one and the same.el cristiano y el acero.

Under the shadow eavesBajo el alero de sombra
or in the corner of the grapevine,o en el rincón de la parra,
the hands that dealt deathlas manos que dieron muerte
could also play the guitar.sabían templar la guitarra.

Fixed on the eyes,Fija la vista en los ojos,
he was able to stopera capaz de parar
the sneakiest blow,el hachazo más taimado,
Happy those who saw him fight!¡Feliz quien lo vio pelear!

Not so happy were thoseNo tan felices aquellos
whose last memorycuyo recuerdo postrero
was the sudden attackfue la brusca arremetida
and the steel's entrance.y la entrada del acero.

Always the jungle and the duelSiempre la selva y el duelo
chest to chest and face to face,pecho a pecho y cara a cara,
he lived killing and fleeing.vivió matando y huyendo.
He lived as if he were dreaming.Vivió como si soñara.

It is said that a womanSe cuenta que una mujer
go and handed him over to the gang;fue y lo entregó a la partida;
to everyone, sooner or later,a todos, tarde o temprano,
life hands us over.nos va entregando la vida.