La suerte de mi compadre
Ángel Parra
My Buddy's Luck
My buddy's luck
I wouldn't want to have:
working the whole year
and not having anything to eat.
He works as a teacher,
gets paid like a laborer,
five-day week
is not enough for bread.
My buddy is a carpenter,
mason, and ironworker,
with so much wisdom
the sun has never shone on him.
Five mouths screaming at him
with hunger from north to south,
five roads blocked
that won't find the light.
He would like five handkerchiefs
to cry for five nights,
five words won't help
to ease his pains.
