My mother chose “No te Salves” by Mario Benedetti. She thinks the poem defines the way we should live life, without fear and with determination. The poem makes us think about the principles we live by and those of the people we have relationships with. What she likes about the poem is the way it challenges another individual to take risks, to let himself go, to enjoy, because she thinks this is what people should do.
No te salves
Mario Benedetti
No te quedes inmóvil
al borde del camino
no congeles el júbilo
no quieras con desgana
no te salves ahora
ni nunca
no te salves
no te llenes de calma
no reserves del mundo
sólo un rincón tranquilo
no dejes caer los párpados
pesados como juicios
no te quedes sin labios
no te duermas sin sueño
no te pienses sin sangre
no te juzgues sin tiempo
pero si
pese a todo no puedes evitarlo
y congelas el júbilo
y quieres con desgana
y te salvas ahora
y te llenas de calma
y reservas del mundo
sólo un rincón tranquilo
y dejas caer los párpados
pesados como juicios
y te secas sin labios
y te duermes sin sueño
y te piensas sin sangre
y te juzgas sin tiempo
y te quedas inmóvil
al borde del camino
y te salvas
entonces
no te quedes conmigo.
Don't keep yourself safe
trasnlated by Paul Archer
Don't stand idly
by the side of the road
don’t freeze the joy you should feel
don't love half-heartedly
don't keep yourself safe now
or ever
don’t keep yourself safe
don’t be filled with a deep calm
don't just hide away
in a quiet corner of the world
don't let your eyelids fall
heavily like judgments
don't keep your mouth shut
don't fall asleep without dreaming
don't think without passion
don't judge yourself in haste
but if
after all
you can't help it
and freeze the joy you should feel
and love half-heartedly
and keep yourself safe now
and fill yourself with a deep calm
and just hide away
in a quiet corner in the world
and let your eyelids fall
heavily like judgments
and let your mouth dry up
and fall asleep without dreaming
and think without passion
and judge yourself in haste
and stand idly
by the side of the road
and keep yourself safe
then
don't stay with me