About my bad education (Pablo Neruda)
Translated from Spanish to English by Toni Merchant
Which is which
Which is the how?
Who knows how to behave?
How natural fish are!
They never seem out of place.
They are like hosts in the sea
And they dress correctly
Without sporting an extra scale,
Honored by the water.
I, everyday, put not only my feet in the plate
But my elbows, my kidneys
The lire, my soul, the rifle.
I do not know what to do with my hands
And I have seriously thought,
just to go without them
But where can I put my ring?
What a terrible uncertainty!
And on top of it, I do not know anybody
I do not remember their last names.
I think I remember you
Aren´t you a contraband dealer?
And you ma’m, aren´t you the lover
Of this alcoholic poet
Who rambled without a purpose
On the neighborhood roofs?
He flied because he had wings
And you still have your feet on the ground
I would have loved to offer you
As an Indian widow, to a big pile of fire
Could we burn you right now?
It would be really exciting!
Another time, on an embassy
I fell in love with a black woman
She did not want to take her clothes off
And I asked her strongly:
Are you crazy, wild statue
How can you dare to wear clothes?
They forcefully made me banish
Of this and other reunions,
If by mistake I wandered close
They would close windows and doors.
Then I joined the gypsies,
The magicians,
The seamen without a ship,
The fishermen without fish,
But everybody had rules,
Unimaginable protocols,
And my lamentable education
Brought me bad consequences.
This is why I do not come and do not go
I do not wear clothes, but I am not naked either
I threw my silverware to the well,
My spoons and knives.
I just smile by myself,
I do not ask indiscreet questions
And when someone comes to look for me
And with great honor, to the banquets
I send my clothes, my shoes,
My shirt, with my hat,
But despite of this, they are not happy:
My suit was there without a tie, they say.
This way, just to probe myself
I decided to have a honest life
One with the most active laziness,
I purified my intentions,
I went out to eat with myself,
And that way, I become mute.
Sometimes, I took myself out for a dance
But without great enthusiasm,
And then, I go to bed alone, with no hope
Just not to go to the wrong room.
Goodbye, because I just came
Good morning, I am in a hurry.
Whenever you want to see me you know:
Look for me where you know I am not
And if you have extra time to spare, and something to say
You can talk to my portrait.
Sobre mi mala educación - Pablo Neruda
Cuál es cuál,
cuál es el cómo?_
Quién sabe cómo conducirse?
Qué naturales son los peces!
Nunca parecen inoportunos.
Están en el mar invitados_
y se visten correctamente_
sin una escama de menos,_
condecorados por el agua.__
Yo todos los días pongo_
no sólo los pies en el plato,_
sino los codos,
los riñones,_
la lira, el alma, la escopeta.__
No sé qué hacer con las manos_
y he pensado venir sin ellas,_
pero dónde pongo el anillo?_
Qué pavorosa incertidumbre!__
Y luego no conozco a nadie._
No recuerdo sus apellidos.__
—Me parece conocer a usted._
—No es usted un contrabandista?_
—Y usted señora no es la amante_
del alcohólico poeta_
que se paseaba sin cesar,_
sin rumbo fijo por las cornisas?_
—Voló porque tenía alas._
—Y usted continúa terrestre._
—Me gustaría haberla entregado_
como india viuda a un gran brasero,_
no podríamos quemarla ahora?_
Resultaría palpitante!__
Otra vez en una Embajada_
me enamoré de una morena,_
no quiso desnudarse allí,_
y yo se lo increpé con dureza:_
estás loca, estatua silvestre,_
cómo puedes andar vestida?__
Me desterraron duramente_
de ésa y de otras reuniones,_
si por error me aproximaba_
cerraban ventanas y puertas.__
Anduve entonces con gitanos_
y con prestidigitadores,_
con marineros sin buque,_
con pescadores sin pescado,_
pero todos tenían reglas,_
inconcebibles protocolos_
y mi educación lamentable_
me trajo malas consecuencias.__
Por eso no voy y no vengo,_
no me visto ni ando desnudo,_
eché al pozo los tenedores,_
las cucharas y los cuchillos._
Sólo me sonrío a mí solo,_
no hago preguntas indiscretas_
y cuando vienen a buscarme,_
con gran honor, a los banquetes,_
mando mi ropa, mis zapatos,_
mi camisa con mi sombrero,_
pero aún así no se contentan:_
iba sin corbata mi traje.__
Así para salir de dudas_
me decidí a una vida honrada_
de la más activa pereza,_
purifiqué mis intenciones,_
salí a comer conmigo solo_
y así me fui quedando mudo._
A veces me saque a bailar,_
pero sin gran entusiasmo,_
y me acuesto solo, sin ganas,_
por no equivocarme de cuarto.__
Adiós porque vengo llegando._
Buenos días, me voy de prisa.__
Cuando quieran verme ya saben:_
búsquenme donde no estoy_
y si les sobra tiempo y boca_
pueden hablar con mi retrato.
