Poem
Liana Mejía
DEATH CITY
Dying was easy,like in the Wild West,
a shot straight
through the chest
on some dust-whipped street
was enough.
Later, a minister reciting psalms
and a widow
who one of us would certainly console.
You always said
that having a weapon was better than not,
when our time is up
the bullets can find
the route to the heart on their own.
That morning when you didn’t draw
you knew yours was finished.
© Translation: 2009, Constance Lardas
DEATH CITY
DEATH CITY
Morir era tan fácilcomo en el viejo oeste,
bastaba un disparo
en mitad del pecho
en alguna calle polvorienta.
Luego un pastor recitando salmos de memoria
y una viuda
que alguno de nosotros se encargaría de consolar.
Siempre decías
que tener un arma era mejor que no tenerla,
cuando se ha cumplido nuestro plazo
las balas buscan solas
la dirección del corazón.
Aquella mañana en que no desenfundaste
sabias que el tuyo terminaba.
© 2000, Liana Mejía
From: Ciudad reencontrada
From: Ciudad reencontrada
Poems
Poems of Liana Mejía
Close
DEATH CITY
Dying was easy,like in the Wild West,
a shot straight
through the chest
on some dust-whipped street
was enough.
Later, a minister reciting psalms
and a widow
who one of us would certainly console.
You always said
that having a weapon was better than not,
when our time is up
the bullets can find
the route to the heart on their own.
That morning when you didn’t draw
you knew yours was finished.
© 2009, Constance Lardas
From: Ciudad reencontrada
From: Ciudad reencontrada
DEATH CITY
Dying was easy,like in the Wild West,
a shot straight
through the chest
on some dust-whipped street
was enough.
Later, a minister reciting psalms
and a widow
who one of us would certainly console.
You always said
that having a weapon was better than not,
when our time is up
the bullets can find
the route to the heart on their own.
That morning when you didn’t draw
you knew yours was finished.
© 2009, Constance Lardas
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