In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

  • Si al que posee abundancia
  • Rafael Ballesteros (bio)

Si al que posee abundanciacon insistencia pides muchoy lo miras como el sapo a la lunaferoz desde la charca, ¿quién va a negarsea darte siquiera una miaja, un poco?

Y más si no pides moneda o pan o techodonde guarecerte, sino piedad para atendera tus desgracias y acogimiento para cubrirtede tus antiguas imposturas.

Porque sabes que el hombre es feraz y generosoen los asuntos del corazón y codicioso y avarocon las minucias que infinitas nos rodean,todo no pides.

Sólo aquello que van a negarte: mirra,incienso, oro en este establo, en que la vaca lloray la mula aúlla y aúlla absorta en el vacío. [End Page 112]

  • If you insistently ask a lot
  • Rafael Ballesteros
    Translated by Mark Aldrich (bio)

If you insistently ask a lotof someone who possesses abundanceand you look at him like a ferocious toadwatching the moon from his puddle, whocould fail to give you something, even a little scrap?

And more so if you're not asking for money or bread or a roofto have over your head, but just compassion towardsyour miseries and acceptance towardsyour former deceptions.

Because you know that man is fertile and generousin the things of the heart and greedy and miserlywith the infinite little minutiae that surround us;you're not asking for everything.

Just that which they are going to deny you: incense,myrrh and gold, here in this manger, where a cow sheds tearsand the mule brays and brays, lost in his emptiness. [End Page 113]

Mark Aldrich

Mark Aldrich recibió su doctorado de la Universidad de Massachusetts y actualmente se desempeña como profesor de español en Dickinson College. Su investigación se enfoca en la poésia del siglo XX.

Mark Aldrich

Mark Aldrich received his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts and currently works as Associate Professor of Spanish at Dickinson College. His research focuses on twentieth-century poetry.

Rafael Ballesteros

Rafael Ballesteros nació en Málaga, España, en 1938. Recibió su maestría en literatura y filosofía de la Universidad de Granada y ha dictado clases en muchas universidades. Ha publicado varias colecciones de poesía, incluyendo Las contracifras, Testamenta, y Los dominios de la emoción.

Rafael Ballesteros

Rafael Ballesteros was born in Málaga, Spain, in 1938. He received an M.A. degree in Literature and Philosophy from University of Granada and has been a guest lecturer in many universities. He has published several collections of poetry, among them: Las contracifras, Testamenta, and Los dominios de la emoción.

...

pdf

Share