| Mandarinas (original) | Mandarinas (translation) |
|---|---|
| Recuerdo: cuando niño | I remember: when I was a child |
| robaba mandarinas, | stole tangerines, |
| redondeces de oro | rounds of gold |
| que una dulce vecina | what a sweet neighbor |
| cuidaba de mis garras | took care of my claws |
| -mis garras asesinas- | -my killer claws- |
| como quien cuida el tiempo | like someone who takes care of time |
| que no arruine la vida. | don't ruin life. |
| Yo esquivaba en la siesta | I dodged in the nap |
| la leve ligustrina, | the slight privet, |
| sobornando a su perro | bribing his dog |
| con sobras de cocina, | with kitchen leftovers, |
| y entraba al terrenito | and he entered the field |
| de Doña Catalina, | of Dona Catalina, |
| que dormía su sueño | that she slept her sleep |
| tras pesadas cortinas. | behind heavy curtains. |
| Alzaba mi tesoro | I raised my treasure |
| y escalaba la encina, | and climbed the oak, |
| después, con un silbido, | then, with a whistle, |
| le avisaba a Cristina | she warned Cristina |
| y comíamos juntos, | and we ate together |
| y ella a veces reía | and she sometimes laughed |
| con risa transparente y fulgor de aguamarina. | with transparent laughter and aquamarine radiance. |
| Silbo de vez en cuando | I whistle from time to time |
| para ver que sucede | to see what happens |
| aunque hace tantos años | even though so many years ago |
| que talaron la encina, | who cut down the oak, |
| y aunque no me lo crean | and even if you don't believe me |
| a veces siento risas, | sometimes I feel laughter, |
| y un perfume en el aire, | and a perfume in the air, |
| como de mandarinas… | like tangerines... |
