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Translation:The Black Heralds (1918)/To My Brother Miguel

From Wikisource
The Black Heralds (1918)
by César Vallejo, translated from Spanish by Wikisource
To My Brother Miguel
César Vallejo1865876The Black Heralds — To My Brother Miguel1918Wikisource

 
In memoriam

Brother, today I’m on the house’s stone bench.
Where we miss you without end!
I remember that we were playing at this hour, and that mom
was caressing us: “But, children...”

Now I hide,
as before, all these vespertine
prayers, and I hope you don’t stumble upon me.
Through the living room, the hallway, the corridors.
After, you’re the one who hides, and I don’t stumble upon you.
I remember that we would end up crying,
brother, playing that game.

Miguel, you hid
one August night, at dawn;
but instead of hiding while laughing, you were sad.
And your twin heart of those extinct
afternoons has tired of not finding you. And now
the shadow falls in the soul.

Listen, brother, don’t be late
in coming out. Alright? Mom could get worried.