Alma Salteña

(Zamba)

At sunset
moonlight fire growing
over the lit star
the sleeping night wakes up upon return

And the solitude
rocking the chalchalero's song
on the leather drumheads
of a legüero drum begins to beat

The Salta soul
every baguala is in
bringing it close to the verse
that the wind carries at dawn
over the rumor of the tents
ancient of Salta since the carnival

When to the prayer
dawn breaks for the miners' dream
the blood of the wine boils
that the mill of his heart grinds

And at dawn
under the poncho of the stars
a coca leaf forming the mouth
of a Salta boy is seen