Mate Amargo

Bitter Mate

Mate Amargo

Bitter mate that was bornMate amargo que naciste
In the circle of a bonfireEn la rueda de un fogón
Spreading traditionDerramando tradición
Between a style and a sadEntre un estilo y un triste
Bitter mate that you broughtMate amargo que trajiste
Among your tasty herbEntre tu yerba sabrosa
The exquisite softnessLa suavidad primorosa
Of a woman's handDe una mano de mujer
And the enchantment of a loveY el embrujo de un querer
With which a girl poured youCon que te cebó una moza

You are the sincere friendSos el amigo sincero
With whom alone chattingCon quien a solas proseando
You spend the hours rollingPasás las horas rodando
In a light gallopEn un galope ligero
You are a calm advisorSos sereno consejero
Whom we listen to with delightQue escuchamos con halago
And between one sip and anotherY entre un trago y otro trago
While the kettle complainsMientras la pava se queja
You talk to us about old thingsNos hablás de cosas viejas
About the longing and the homelandDe la querencia y el pago

The bravest one gets hookedEl más bravo se arrocina
When savoring your bitternessAl paladear tu amargura
You are tasty like offalSos sabroso como achura
And affectionate like ChinaY querendón como China
You are the soul of the kitchenSos alma de la cocina
That brightens a simple gatheringQue alegra reunión sencilla
And while the flame shinesY mientras la llama brilla
You go with tender enchantmentVos vas con tierno embeleso
As if you were a kissComo si fueras un beso
Fluttering in the bombillaAleteando en la bombilla

And when already gallopedY cuando ya galopeao
Like a bird without feathersComo pájaro sin pluma
The water doesn't foamEl água no forma espuma
And you are completely washedY estás del todo lavao
You always have some sideTenés siempre algún costao
For the man to take advantage of youPa’ que el hombre te aproveche
He turns you, and without throwing you awayTe da vuelta, y sin que te eche
Yerba, you remain first classYerba, quedás de primera
You are like a sly cowSos como vaca mañera
That knows how to hide the milkQue sabe esconder la leche