As a child I listened
the tribilin of the quena
that announced
to the scissor sharpener,
knife sharpener.
Your one wheel bike
became a mill
that turned with a pedal.
Today I saw him again
after 40 years
and he has sharpened my soul
to cut meat
from this unusual country
already discarnate,
no soul anymore.
Afilando el alma
De niño escuchaba
el tribilín de la quena
que anunciaba
al afilador de tijeras,
afilador de cuchillos.
Su bicicleta de una rueda
se convertía en molino
que giraba con pedal.
Hoy lo he visto de nuevo
después de 40 años
y me ha afilado el alma
para cortar la carne
de este insólito país
ya descarnado,
sin alma ya.