La gran noticia
Ricardo Palma
The great news
To an old man passing by the street
A pretty girl
And of graceful figure
She stopped the tail of the coat
Telling him: Sir, for your life
I want you to instruct me
About the news that I am told here
An aunt I have in Arequipa
And without further ado
She handed a letter to the old man
The good man rode over his eyes
A serious pair of glasses
He contemplated the envelope, broke the seal
Removed the sand from the blots
Examined the signature, pretty or ugly
And was ecstatic for half an hour on the lines
Already tired of waiting
What do they tell me, sir? - said the beauty
And the old man started crying saying
Nothing! You were born, unhappy, with bad luck
Frightened by the outburst
Of tears from the old man
She asked: Perhaps my brother died?
And the old man replied: Oh! It's worse than that
Is my mother sick? - Still
It's a worse thing, my daughter
You can't bear this misfortune!
I, old as I am, would go crazy!
What happened then, by Saint Engracia?
That you can't read, nor can I!
