La Vieja

In the neighborhood of the hill
lives Etelvina Guido.
According to what people say
on moonlit nights
she dances up dust clouds
and there's a fire burning,
according to what people say
in the neighborhood of the hill.

She lived among talismans
and herbs and rosaries,
no one knew of a man
but a lone shadow
at night would jump rope.
She'd leave at dawn,
so the gossip goes.
She lived among talismans.

Here comes the old woman
with a blessed forehead
and in the endless night
only her lament is heard.
Here comes the old woman
Etelvina of my soul,
with her palm prayer,
while everything fades away.

Barely any memory
of the time when her braid
left people breathless
and according to what people say
her chest set the stars on fire,
Then she had a son,
my grandmother told me,
barely any memory.

Now the neighborhood sleeps,
the old woman is back.
And there's no talisman
And no herb that can save from forgetting
an old woman like Etelvina Guido,
but she is back...
and there's a fire burning in the neighborhood of the hill.

Here comes the old woman...