El Amigo
Atahualpa Yupanqui
The Friend
At a trot he arrived at the houses
After the sun had set
Just like a wet leather
His heart felt heavy
Under the shade of the patio
Slowly he unsaddled
On the path to the watering hole
His horse got lost
Like from afar the wind
Carried a rumor
Of pastures and tree-lined avenues
Mysteries of prayer
Under the moonlight lantern
He took out tobacco and rolled
Just like a wet leather
His heart felt heavy
His friend had died
A horse had crushed him
Matters that always happen
In those lands of God
For stories and lies
The wake is an occasion
But the one who truly feels
Has no words
Bitterly lonely
He spent the whole night
Then he accompanied his friend
On his final journey
And then always silent
He went back to his ranch
And no one cares at all
About what went through his soul
Only when the moon was leaving
He reached his ranch
The things he pondered
Maybe only God knows
Just like a wet leather
His heart felt heavy
