Lo que Quisiste Ser
Silvio Rodriguez
What You Wanted to Be
What does a human being need
not to stray from oneself?
How far is my hand
from the people I knew?
What has truth lacked
to want to disguise it?
Why does a jester fill the place
where there was room for love?
Why do we pretend confusion
until we lose our reason?
In short, I don't know how to say
that everything has returned to normal
only if I know that you are no longer
what you wanted to be.
When my eyes turn into air
with sadness I think of the sea
because my time is your distance
covered to forget
and I see a drawing of love
jumping over a colorless sky
searching for a world to trace
one anxiety and another anxiety
sea laughter made of crayon
because whoever learns to draw
in short, I don't know how to say
that the song has been ruined
only if I know that you are no longer
what you wanted to be.
I see your arms that have carried
a thousand ornaments on their skin
and have forgotten even that they were
a story of dawn
and you, in order to shine
leave human magic behind and go
to play another role
pretending to defer
I don't know if it's desperation
or humble resignation
in short, I don't know what to call
that version of a peacock
only if I know that you are no longer
what you wanted to be.