Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
“EL FLACO SE QUEDA” / DEDICATED TO AGUSTÍN LARA FROM AGUSTÍN’S ANTHOLOGY FOR JOSEFA.
By JEANETTE EUREKA TIBURCIO (MÉXICO)
IF YOU ONLY WENT TO BUY CIGARS
I DON’T UNDERSTAND YET
WHY BLACK CLOTHES
WHY LONG FACES
WHY GOODBYES
THE BED IS STILL INTACT
MARKED IN CORNERS
INK AND CIGARETTE BUTT BY THEIR
RARE MANIAS
HE IS ALREADY TIRED BECAUSE HIS BODY IS WEAK
BUT HIS SOUL, HIS SOUL AS IT SHINES
YOUR ARMORED HEART OF DIAMOND AND PLATINUM
WITH HOLES IN THE CENTER PERHAPS OF SOMETHING LOST
ONE LOVE, ONE FRIEND ONE RING
BUT WAIT
EL FLACO DIDN’T TELL US HE WAS LEAVING
THREE DAYS HAVE PASSED AND WE KNOW NOTHING
BUT IT CONTINUES TO SOUND IN THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE
AND NOW IT’S 10 YEARS AND HE’S STILL INSPIRING.
TO THE DREAMLESS SOULS THAT ARE BEING DISCOVERED
TO THE RHYTHM OF HIS VERSES
AND WHO SHUDDER TO DISCOVER SECRETS
SKINNY DIDN’T SAY YOU WERE GOING
YOU DRANK FROM THE CUP OF LIFE
DRIVEN BY THE FORCE OF LOVE
LIKE AN INTENSE WHIRLWIND
COLLECTING FRIENDS
LIKE A BURNING VOLCANO
GIVING BACK
AND WITH YOUR FAITH VERY FIRM
PLUS YOUR MIND TO HEAVEN
WITH THAT CROSS YOU CARRY
FOR YOUR FERVOR TO GOD
HEART OF GOLD
REVOLUTIONARY, YOU DIDN’T SAY YOU WERE GOING
AND YOU HAVEN’T LEFT
50 YEARS OF KNOWING YOU’RE STILL HERE
IN YOUR VILLAGE AMONG YOUR PEOPLE
IN EVERY MELODY AND IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP
STILL IN THE DISTANCE
THAT IN MIRROR DISCOVERS YOUR PRECISE CODING
I KNOW YOU’RE GOING ROUND
TO ME, YOU DO NOT DECEIVE ME
I DON’T WANT TO BOTHER YOU
BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU TO STOP PLAYING
AND IF YOU BUY CIGARETTES BRING A PROVISION
LET THEM BE FROM PAPALOAPÁN FOR THEIR BEST FLAVOR
I KNOW YOU’RE STILL ALIVE
WALKING IN REFORMA
OR ADMIRING THE BREEZE THAT FACES THE SEA
OR WALKING IN MEMORIES
AFTER GREAT DEVOTION
TO SOME MEXICAN WHO WITH PREVAILING FORCE
IT HAS YOU CAPTURED IN HEART AND SOUL
QUIET
CALM ALL,
EL FLACO LIVES
AND IT WILL NEVER LEAVE.
