PADILLA, Heberto




Instrucciones para ingresar en una nueva sociedad


Lo primero: optimista.

Lo segundo: atildado, comedido, obediente.

(Haber pasado todas las pruebas deportivas.)

Y finalmente andar

como lo hace cada miembro:

un paso al frente, y

dos o tres atras:

pero siempre aplaudiendo.


Instructions on how to enter a new society


One: be an optimist.

Two: be discreet, correct, obedient.

(Do well at sports - all of them.)

And, most of all, move

like all the other members:

one step forward, and

one or two steps back:

but never stop cheering.



Out of the Game


The poet! Kick him out!

He has no business here.

He doesn't play the game.

He never gets excited

Or speaks out clearly.

He never even sees the miracles.



The Old Bard Speaks


Don't you forget poet.

whatever the place and time

in which you make or suffer History,

there will always be a dangerous poem waiting to ambush you