| Yo no pregunto cuándo, sino hasta dónde,
| I don't ask when, but how far,
|
| aguantará este pueblo que se desangra.
| will endure this bleeding town.
|
| Este pueblo callado de buenos hombres
| This quiet town of good men
|
| que su dios ha premiado con la esperanza.
| that their god has rewarded with hope.
|
| Yo no pregunto quién sino porqué causa
| I do not ask who but why cause
|
| se ha dormido el vigía mientras asaltan.
| the lookout has fallen asleep during the assault.
|
| Yo no pregunto cuántos habrán caído
| I do not ask how many will have fallen
|
| en aquellas batallas que hay en la historia,
| in those battles that are in history,
|
| ni porqué a las estatuas en este sitio
| nor why to the statues in this place
|
| han tapado sus bocas lazos de gloria.
| They have tied their mouths with bonds of glory.
|
| Que venga el pan y el circo para los pobres
| Let the bread and the circus come for the poor
|
| y ese monstruo nos trague con su censura,
| and that monster swallow us with its censorship of him,
|
| no sea que se despierten los ideales,
| lest ideals be awakened,
|
| se nos caiga el telón,
| the curtain falls on us,
|
| se nos caiga el telón,
| the curtain falls on us,
|
| y salga la basura.
| and get the garbage out.
|
| No sé quién ha corrido por la canasta
| I don't know who has run for the basket
|
| ni pretendo saber dónde se ha metido,
| nor do I pretend to know where he has been,
|
| mas tendrá que salir como toda rata
| but he will have to go out like any rat
|
| le aplastará una escoba para partirlo. | he will be crushed by a broom to break it. |