La Tramontana
Patricio Manns
The North Wind
On a winter road, I returned to your town.
Your town welcomed me with open arms early in the morning.
And when that night the wine gave us fire,
someone mentioned your name, my North Wind.
Hidden by the claws of the north wind,
on the other side of the mountain you call home,
you made me lose my way for so long
that I have never been able to find you, my North Wind.
Proud like your name that I never forget,
so vain and haughty, so sovereign,
you also lost the trace that leads to my door,
the clear door that leads to my chest,
and even that chest, my North Wind.
And you have left me empty-handed,
the tender hands that searched for you
without finding you, my North Wind.
Sometimes, when the road kills me a little
and I can't distinguish the shadows of your window,
my heart falls asleep biting the dawn,
waiting for you to appear, my North Wind.
