Translation: Once Upon a Man

This is a man

who lived life like many others

Who has walked many streets and sidewalks

Through parks

Who has seen flowers, stars,

Who has watched birds,

Looked always above and below (with care).

He looked for Heaven in people and in the sky

He looked for water in oceans and rivers

He cried when he needed to cry, and when he did not

He laughed when laughter was needed, and when it was not.

He worried for things in life that were both great,

and trivial

And like many, he never complained.

He greeted, he kissed, he knelt

and he looked to the sky in search of his desired Heaven

And one day,

He knew the Heaven and water he had searched for,

and he drank and he flew and was enthralled.

 

His universe expanded.

He closed his eyes and smiled

He felt the winds stirring his hair in delight

And Life…

That life he had sought,

It appeared before him

and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

And he understood at last what she had always said…

I love you, even though you have never noticed.

A little while later…

A few years, months, days or maybe just hours,

He closed his eyes

And finally managed to smile at the divine-

Life had rewarded him.

She had refreshed his soul.

She had gifted him Heaven in his last moments.

Author's Note

This is the third of 3 very special poems. They are not mine- they are translations into English of the poetry of my friend and fellow Quetzaltenango poet Alejandro Barthet- a Guatemalan poet whose work has never before been featured internationally. Below, you can find his orignal words, in Spanish:

"Este es un hombre
que vivió la vida como muchos
Caminó por muchas calles y aceras,
Por los parques
Vió las flores, las estrellas,
Vió los pájaros,
vió siempre hacia lo alto y lo bajo (con cuidado).
Buscó el cielo en las personas y en el cielo
Buscó el agua en el mar y en los ríos
Lloró cuando tuvo que llorar y cuando no tuvo que llorar
Rió cuando tuvo que reír y cuando no tuvo que reír
Se preocupó por cosas vanas
o por las cosas grandes de la vida
Y como muchos, Nunca se quejó.
Saludó, besó, si hincó
y miró al cielo en busca de ese cielo anhelado
Y un día,
Conoció el cielo y el agua que buscaba
y bebió y voló ensimismado,
Su universo se expandió.
Cerró los ojos y sonrió
Sintió cómo el viento levantaba sus cabellos
Y la vida..
Esa vida qué él buscaba,
Se hizo presente y le dio un beso en la frente.
Y entendió finalmente lo que ella le decía
y le dijo siempre al oído…
Te quiero, aunque nunca te hayas dado cuenta.
Poco tiempo después..
A los pocos años, meses, días o tal vez horas,
Cerró los ojos
Y alcanzó a formar todavía una sonrisa al eterno.
La vida lo había compensado.
Le había refrescado el alma.
Le había regalado el cielo en el último momento."

Reviews

[emmajoy]

Those words start to finish are beautiful,mear simply put and thus, Marie, all the more sincere, real, spiritually inspiring. ' . has seen flowers, stars, ~ Who has watched birds, ~ Looked always above and below (with care). ~ He looked for Heaven in people and in the sky ~ He looked for water in oceans and rivers ~ He cried when he needed to cry.. .. '

Your translation appears to have retained the true value, treasure of the original language.. how could it not, you're fluent, the poet has/had a most unique and precious spirit. ' Cerró los ojos
Y alcanzó a formar todavía una sonrisa al eterno.'

I'll come back to this, time and again.

[G. B. Banks]

beautiful and symbolic write ... spanish is a lovely sounding language

[Marie Anzalone]

Thank you, Blue, for the review comment. It is indeed interesting to have learned to think, read, listen, talk, and write in a second language. Spanish is a very sensual language in the truest sense of the word- deeply connected to experiences of the five senses and their connection to human life. When I translate for someone, I am translating as much emotion, as words.

[G. B. Banks]

Love your comment Marie, pretty informative.