Carta de Un Preso

Letter from a Prisoner

Carta de Un Preso

With much love and all due respectCon mucho cariño y con todo respeto
for all those who are locked up.para todos aquellos que estan privados de su libertad.

The sun no longer shinesya no entra el sol
in the corner where I sit.en el rincon donde yo me siento
I know it's useless to try to get you back.se que es inutil para mi recuperarte
I can't think of any more excuses to give you,no se me ocurren mas pretextos para darte
just walls, a fence, and this confinement.solo paredes una reja y este encierro.

Promise mePrometeme
that when we lie to our kids,que de mentirle a nuestros hijos
I don't want them to think I'm a bad dad.no quiero que ellos piensen que soy un mal padre
If the need for bread knocked on my door,si la necesidad del pan golpeo a mi puerta
I'll die trying to make sure they don't go without.he de morir para tratar que no les falte.

Tell my friends you've moved on,A mis amigos diles que te has separado
that you don't care or feel hurt if I'm dead.que no te importa ni te duele si estoy muerto
It's just for a while until I get out of this cage,es por un tiempo hasta que salga de este encierro
which shames me because I never wanted this.que me averguenza porque nunca quise hacerlo.

I swear it was necessity, not a whim.Te juro fue necesidad y no capricho
I swear I'm already paying for my mistakes.te juro que ya estoy pagando mis errores
Just tell my mom what's going on;dile a mi madre solamente lo que pasa
she's the only one who can heal my pain.ella es la unica que cura mis dolores.

I had to make a mistake to realize how important freedom is...Tuve que cometer un error para saber lo importante que es la libertad...

I only ask you, Your Honor, I'm not lying.Solo le pido señor juez no estoy mintiendo
Only God knows I haven't lost my shame.solo Dios sabe no he perdido la verguenza
Seeing my kids who have nothing and are beggingver a mis hijos que no tienen y que piden
were reasons that broke my conscience.fueron motivos que rompieron mi conciencia.

I understand it,Yo lo comprendo
and even though I know it's too late,y aunque se que ya es muy tarde
I'll serve my sentence, and I promise.voy a cumplir mi condena y lo prometo
I spoke with God and promised to pay my debthable con Dios y prometi pagar mi deuda
because He's the only one who knows I'm not lying.porque es el unico que sabe que no miento.