Poetry Is 2017 Poetry is 2018 6M | Page 33

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