Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Fredy Chicangana

WE STILL HAVE LIFE ON THIS EARTH

While the women grind the yellow corn of the stone
We sing with flutes and deer drums
We laugh and get drunk unhurriedly
We see off the sun fleeing between the mountains
We laugh and we dance with flutes in our hands
We penetrate the depths of the earth
After that warm navel that carries us and takes us
to memory
to the space inhabited by our dead
who receive us joyously
Let us drink! — says taita Manuel — and cheers for corn!
Let us drink! — says mama Rosario — and cheers for the earth that warms us!
                                                                                                                                
And while we dance on the furrows
we laugh and we sing with our dead
we drive away sorrows with flutes and
we sweeten the nights with chicha
Let us drink without sorrow! They shout
We still have life on this earth.

AUN TENEMOS VIDA EN ESTA TIERRA

AUN TENEMOS VIDA EN ESTA TIERRA

Mientras ellas muelen el maíz amarillo sobre la piedra
Nosotros cantamos con flautas y tambores de venado
Reímos y nos embriagamos sin prisa
Despedimos al sol que huye entre las montañas,
Reímos y danzamos con flautas entre las manos,
Nos vamos metiendo hacia el fondo de la tierra
Por ese ombligo tibio que arrastra y nos lleva
a la memoria
a ese espacio donde habitan nuestros muertos
que nos reciben con alegría
¡Bebamos! — dice Taita Manuel — y que viva el maíz
¡bebamos — dice mama Rosario — y que viva la tierrita que nos calienta.

Y mientras se danza sobre los surcos
Reímos y cantamos con nuestros muertos
con flautas ahuyentamos las penas y
con chicha endulzamos las noches
¡bebamos sin pena! Gritan
Que aún tenemos vida en esta tierra.
Close

WE STILL HAVE LIFE ON THIS EARTH

While the women grind the yellow corn of the stone
We sing with flutes and deer drums
We laugh and get drunk unhurriedly
We see off the sun fleeing between the mountains
We laugh and we dance with flutes in our hands
We penetrate the depths of the earth
After that warm navel that carries us and takes us
to memory
to the space inhabited by our dead
who receive us joyously
Let us drink! — says taita Manuel — and cheers for corn!
Let us drink! — says mama Rosario — and cheers for the earth that warms us!
                                                                                                                                
And while we dance on the furrows
we laugh and we sing with our dead
we drive away sorrows with flutes and
we sweeten the nights with chicha
Let us drink without sorrow! They shout
We still have life on this earth.

WE STILL HAVE LIFE ON THIS EARTH

While the women grind the yellow corn of the stone
We sing with flutes and deer drums
We laugh and get drunk unhurriedly
We see off the sun fleeing between the mountains
We laugh and we dance with flutes in our hands
We penetrate the depths of the earth
After that warm navel that carries us and takes us
to memory
to the space inhabited by our dead
who receive us joyously
Let us drink! — says taita Manuel — and cheers for corn!
Let us drink! — says mama Rosario — and cheers for the earth that warms us!
                                                                                                                                
And while we dance on the furrows
we laugh and we sing with our dead
we drive away sorrows with flutes and
we sweeten the nights with chicha
Let us drink without sorrow! They shout
We still have life on this earth.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère