Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Rafael Alcides

AT THE BURIAL OF THE COMMON MAN

For Raúl Luis


When a funeral procession passes by
followed by only two cars
 and no one notices, I tremble, I shake,
I palpitate, I'm afraid to be a man.
                                  But I get over it.

Something very important has just happened in the world
and I begin to hum the National Anthem.
By now my heart can’t take it.
I had followed the procession with my eyes.
Suddenly I break into a run,
I stand next to the others around the grave,
I gather my courage and drop in a handful of dirt.
That dead man is for me the triumph of the species,
that anonymous dead man
who was, despite it all, the spirit of the battle.
But now the dead man is alone,
silence his only victory.
And I weep like a soldier before the tomb of my only general.

 

EN EL ENTIERRO DEL HOMBRE COMÚN

EN EL ENTIERRO DEL HOMBRE COMÚN

A Raúl Luis


Cuando un entierro con dos máquinas solas
pasa y nadie se fija, yo tiemblo, me estremezco,
palpito; siento miedo de ser un hombre.
                               Pero me sobrepongo. 

Algo muy importante acaba de suceder en el mundo
y empiezo a tararear el Himno Nacional.
A estas alturas mi corazón no puede más.
Había seguido con la vista el entierro.
De pronto echo a correr,
me reúno con los que están junto al hoyo,
tomo valor yo también para dejar caer el terrón.
Ese muerto es para mí el triunfo de la especie,
ese muerto anónimo
que fue el alma del combate sin embargo,
pero ahora ese muerto solo
sin más victoria que el silencio.
Y lloro militarmente en la tumba de mi único General.

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AT THE BURIAL OF THE COMMON MAN

For Raúl Luis


When a funeral procession passes by
followed by only two cars
 and no one notices, I tremble, I shake,
I palpitate, I'm afraid to be a man.
                                  But I get over it.

Something very important has just happened in the world
and I begin to hum the National Anthem.
By now my heart can’t take it.
I had followed the procession with my eyes.
Suddenly I break into a run,
I stand next to the others around the grave,
I gather my courage and drop in a handful of dirt.
That dead man is for me the triumph of the species,
that anonymous dead man
who was, despite it all, the spirit of the battle.
But now the dead man is alone,
silence his only victory.
And I weep like a soldier before the tomb of my only general.

 

AT THE BURIAL OF THE COMMON MAN

For Raúl Luis


When a funeral procession passes by
followed by only two cars
 and no one notices, I tremble, I shake,
I palpitate, I'm afraid to be a man.
                                  But I get over it.

Something very important has just happened in the world
and I begin to hum the National Anthem.
By now my heart can’t take it.
I had followed the procession with my eyes.
Suddenly I break into a run,
I stand next to the others around the grave,
I gather my courage and drop in a handful of dirt.
That dead man is for me the triumph of the species,
that anonymous dead man
who was, despite it all, the spirit of the battle.
But now the dead man is alone,
silence his only victory.
And I weep like a soldier before the tomb of my only general.

 

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère