Robert Swearingen
Soldier/Soldado
(Spanish translation by Mitch Rayes)
Soldier Soldado
I carry my blood llevo mi sangre
in a pocket of night. en una bolsa de noche.
I am dry now, Estoy seco ya,
only bones. puro hueso.
It is curious because Es algo curioso
I am standing pues aqui me encuentro
near a river. parado cerca de un rio.
Tell me soldier, Soldado, dime
how many kinds of blood cuantos tipos de sangre
make water? para hacer esta agua?
I pick up a stone Llevanta una piedra,
drop it into the river la dejo caer al rio
watch it turn red. y lo veo volverse rojo.
Tell me soldier, Soldado, dime
how many stars cuantas estrellas
fell here? aqui han caido?
‘Soldier/Soldado’ appeared in
Central Avenue issue #10, September 2003
Copyright © 2003 Robert Swearingen
About the poet.