The Cage
Outside there’s sun.
It’s nothing more than a sun
but the men watch it
and then they sing.
I don’t know about the sun.
I know about the angel’s melody
and the hot sermon
of the last wind
I cry until dawn
when death settles naked
in my shadow.
I cry beneath my name.
I wave handkerchiefs at night
and thirsty boats
dance with me.
I hide nails
to mock my sick dreams.
Outside there’s sun.
I was dressed in ashes.
Translated from the Spanish by Jason Stumpf