José Martí -Verso VIII. Yo tengo un amigo muerto...-

Verso VIII. Yo tengo un amigo muerto...

Yo tengo un amigo muerto
Que suele venirme a ver:
Mi amigo se sienta, y canta;
Canta en voz que ha de doler.

"En un ave de dos alas
"Bogo por el cielo azul:
"Un ala del ave es negra,
"Otra de oro Caribú.
"El corazón es un loco
"Que no sabe de un color:
"O es su amor de dos colores,
"O dice que no es amor.

"Hay una loca más fiera
"Que el corazón infeliz:
"La que le chupó la sangre
"Y se echó luego a reír.

"Corazón que lleva rota
"El ancla fiel del hogar,
"Va como barca perdida,
"Que no sabe a dónde va."

En cuanto llega a esta angustia
Rompe el muerto a maldecir:
Le amanso el cráneo: lo acuesto:
Acuesto al muerto a dormir.


Verse VIII. I have a dead friend...

I have a dead friend who lately
Has begun to visit me:
My friend sits down and sings to me,
Sings to me so dolefully.

"Upon the double-winged bird's back
I am rowing through skies of blue:
One of the bird's wings is black,
The other, gold of Cariboo."

"The heart's a madman that abhors
One color as one too few:
Either its love is two colors,
Or else it is not love's hue."

"There's a madwoman more savage
Than is the unhappy heart:
She that sucks the blood in rage,
And then a-laughing would start."

"A heart that has lost forever
The steadfast anchor of home,
Sails like a ship in fould weather,
And knows not to go or come."

If his anguish should betray him,
The dead man will curse and weep:
I pat his skull and I lay him,
Lay the dead man down to sleep.