Mano a Mano

Very sad in my sadness
today I evoke you and see that you have been
in my poor wretched life
just a good woman
your cool presence
put warmth in my nest
you were good and consistent
and I know you have loved me
like you didn't love anyone else
like you won't be able to love

The game of remache happened
when you, poor woman
dodged poverty
in the boarding house
Today you're all cool
life laughs and sings to you
the money of that fool
you throw to the merchant
like the sly cat plays
with the wretched mouse

Today you have the mate full
of unhappy illusions
the fools deceived you
the friends, the pimp
the milonga among magnates
with their crazy temptations
where they triumph and falter
milongueras pretensions
have entered deep
into the poor heart

I owe you nothing
hand in hand we have remained
I don't care what you have done
what you do, or what you will do
the favors received
I believe I have repaid them to you
and if some small debt
unintentionally I have forgotten
in the account of the fool you have,
you can charge it to him.

Meanwhile, may your triumphs
poor fleeting triumphs
be a long line
of wealth and pleasure
may the pimp who traps you
have lasting pesos
may he embrace you at the stops
with milonga-loving pimps
and may the boys say
she's a good woman

And tomorrow when you are
a worn-out old piece of furniture
and you have no hope
in your poor heart
if you need help
if you need advice
don't forget about this friend
who will risk his skin
to help you in whatever way he can
when the time comes.