El Pregón

The Town Crier

Here he comes like every morning
the town crier TODAY
Through the alleys and the squares
crying out his proclamation.

All the kids following his steps
run behind him
From the fields to the school
everyone wants to see him.
And the town crier takes off his hat
And looks for a sunny spot
People fall silent, dogs fall silent
And he begins his proclamation.
On behalf of the mayor of the town
I inform you
That in the LITTLE SQUARE they sell melons,
Blankets, fish, and honey;
Cartwheels, flowers, trinkets,
leather purses.
For the kids there are candies
if they behave well.
And look at the faces of those boys
who smile with him.
He puts away the flute, takes his hat
and leaves afterwards.
Under the elms a little market stall can be seen
From eleven in the morning until nightfall.
What did you buy, Maria?
-I bought a towel. -I bought a pestle.
-I bought a watermelon. -I bought a scarf and a laurel wreath.

And a gypsy shouts, microphone in hand:
Buy from me too.
LOOK, BROTHERS, for in two years
I won't come back again.