Mi Viejo Mate Galleta
Mi viejo mate galleta,
que pena me dio perderte,
que mano tronchó tu suerte,
tal vez la mano del tiempo,
si hasta creí que eras eterno,
nunca imaginé tu muerte.
En tu pancita verdosa,
cuantos paisajes miré,
cuantos versos hilvané,
mientras gozaba tu amargo.
Cuántas veces te hice largo,
y vos sabías porqué.
Cuando la yerba escaseaba,
por falta de patacones,
nunca pediste razones,
pero me diste consejos,
chupá, pero hacete viejo,
sin llegar a los talones.
Y en esos negros inviernos,
cuando la escarcha blanqueaba,
tu cuerpito calentaba,
mis manos con su calor,
pa que el amigo cantor,
se prendiera a la guitarra,
y ahí nomás se hacía la farra,
vos y yo, en un mano a mano,
mate y guitarra en el claro,
mate y guitarra en la sombra,
en leguas a la redonda,
no hubo jagüel orejano.
Ah, compañero y hermano,
que destino tan sotreta,
nunca le di a la limeta,
en vos encontré la calma.
En este adiós pongo el alma,
mi viejo mate galleta.
My Old Mate Cookie
My old mate cookie,
what sorrow I felt for losing you,
what hand cut short your luck,
maybe the hand of time,
I even thought you were eternal,
never imagined your death.
In your green belly,
how many landscapes I saw,
how many verses I strung together,
while enjoying your bitterness.
How many times I made you last,
and you knew why.
When the yerba mate was scarce,
due to lack of coins,
you never asked for reasons,
but you gave me advice,
drink up, but grow old,
without reaching the heels.
And in those dark winters,
when the frost whitened,
your little body warmed up,
my hands with its heat,
so that the singing friend,
would join the guitar,
and right there the party started,
you and I, in a one-on-one,
mate and guitar in the clearing,
mate and guitar in the shade,
for miles around,
there was no better waterhole.
Ah, companion and brother,
what a sneaky destiny,
I never gave you the lime,
I found calm in you.
In this farewell, I put my soul,
my old mate cookie.