El Cilindro

The Cylinder

El Cilindro

They found the cylinder and carefully took it home, like a blessingEncontraron el cilindro y a su casa lo llevaron con cuidado, como a una bendición
It was Christmas, and the cylinder was their gift, and the kids were thrilled by its arrivalEra Pascuas, y el cilindro su regalo, y los niños se encantaron con su aparición
They opened the cylinder and were amazed when they saw inside a magical colorAbrieron el cilindro y se maravillaron cuando vieron dentro un mágico color
Like a star, stardust, that brightened their misery with its lightComo una estrella, polvo de cielo, que alegraba su miseria con su luz
They rubbed it on their bodies, and worshipped it like it was JesusSobre sus cuerpos lo restregaron, y lo adoraron como si fuera Jesús

The neighbors found out and curious, they visited "the house where the sun rises at night"Los vecinos se enteraron y curiosos visitaron "a la casa en que de noche sale el sol"
The cylinder and the family were the best news for the Press, RadioEl cilindro y la familia fueron la mejor noticia de la Prensa, Radio
And Television A miracle from God?; Another Wizard of Oz; Gift from a Flying Saucer?Y la Televisión Un milagro de Dios?; Otro Mago de Oz; Regalo de un Platillo Volador?
That cylinder, with the stardust that brightened their misery with its lightAquel cilindro, con el polvo de cielo que alegraba su miseria con su luz
They rubbed it on their bodies, and worshipped it, like it was JesusSobre sus cuerpos lo restregaron, y lo adoraron, como si fuera Jesús

The light from the cylinder started to fade and as it left, it dimmedLa luz del cilindro fue menguando y al irse se fué apagando
The love that celebrated itEl amor que lo celebró
One by one we paid the cruel price of those who base their happiness on liesUno por uno fuimos pagando el precio cruel de los que basan su felicidad en error
The government explained through experts that the dead wereEl gobierno explicó a través de expertos que, los muertos fueron
Victims of radioactivityVíctimas de radioactividad
They fined a local hospital for dumping toxic substances in a popular areaLe dieron una multa a un hospital local, por botar substancias tóxicas en un área popular
There was no miracle, no justice, and that tragedy is no longer newsNo hubo milagro, ni hubo justicia, y esa tragedia no es noticia ya
Nor that cylinder, with the stardust, that brightened the miseryNi aquel cilindro, con el polvo de cielo, que alegraba a la miseria
With its lightCon su luz
It's no longer news, that tragedy of Christmas without baby JesusYa no es noticia, esa tragedia de la Navidad sin el niño Jesús
No one remembers the family that, shining, died in the darkNadie se acuerda de la familia que, brillando, murió en la oscuridad
The hospital paid its fine, cheap was the guilt, for the life of a poor person is worth nothingEl hospital pagó su multa, barata le salió la culpa, pues la vida de un pobre no vale na'