El Retrato de Manuela
Chava Flores
Manuela's Portrait
Manuela's boyfriend Fidel asked for her portrait
and she got all dolled up to have it done;
she painted four beauty marks, took off her cap and apron
and had six postcards made, three facing forward and three in profile,
and thought of dedications for Fidel the bricklayer.
Click, click, click. The portrait is ready.
Click, click, click. Miss, you moved!
Click, click, click. Let's try again,
but focus your gaze so it doesn't come out backwards
and don't show your fangs, you look like Lucifer.
No one recognized Manuela's portrait,
with her smallpox scars retouched her face was lost;
she looked like a little princess, a biscuit doll,
with her red bow and her hand placed here,
the gaze of someone saying:
"Do you see me...? Well, this is how I am".
Click, click, click. The portrait is ready.
Click, click, click. The artist emptied himself.
Click, click, click. Let's get rid of the profile
because the wart on her nose shows up
and she looks too full of herself, she looks like a quail.
"The portrait is for your eyes and the original for you",
the dedication said for Fidel the bricklayer,
who lovingly received it, full of passion
and put it in the wallet he keeps in his pants,
in a back pocket, very close to his... heart!
Click, click, click. The portrait is ready.
Click, click, click. He showed off with his buddies.
Click, click, click. Today Fidelín is getting married,
Manuela's portrait was the cause of this end.
"The portrait is for your eyes and the original for you"
Click, click, click!
