[Este jueves depende de tu boca]

Este jueves depende de tu boca.Debes cuidarla igual que un parque a un niño,como cuida el otoño cada hojay le procura el aire necesariopara que se reúna con las otras.

Mira este jueves. No lo sabe. Míraloacercarse a nosotros entre sombrasy ocupar la ciudad como un ejércitoque no pensara nunca en su derrota.Será jueves en todo. Está de pasopero quiere vivir de luces propias.Entrará en la oficina de mañana,a mediodía contará sus horasy se quedará al norte de las cartasque desde que se escriben son remotas.Mira cómo se acerca hasta nosotros:viste de azul y herencias sigilosas,establece su número y su luna¡el tiempo siendo jueves en las cosas!

Cuídale tú que puedes, no le dejesque tal día haga un año en la memoria.Mira cómo se acerca a la ventanasin saber que depende de tu boca.

Para pasar un día con nosotrosha salido este jueves de sus sombras.

• [This Thursday depends on your mouth]
• Manuel Alcántara (bio)
  Translated by Mark C. Aldrich (bio)

This Thursday depends on your mouth.You must take care of her as a park watches a child,as Autumn watches every leafand makes sure it has enough airto meet up with other leaves.

Look at this Thursday. She doesn't know. Lookhow it comes out of the shadows and towards us,occupying the city like an armythat could never imagine its defeat.He'll be Thursday all year. He 's just passing through,but wants to live off of his own lights.He'll come to the office in the morning,at midday he 'll count his hours andwill stay to the north of the lettersthat ever since letters have been written are remote.Look how he comes towards us:dressed in blue, with a stealthy background,establishes his number and his moon,since time is Thursday in things!

You who can, take care of him, don't let himbecome a year ago in your memory.Look how he comes to the windownot knowing that he depends on your mouth.

To spend a day with usthis Thursday has come out of his shadows.

Manuel Alcántara

Manuel Alcántara, born in Malaga in 1928, is a poet and newspaper columnist. Among his books are Manera de silencio, El embarcadero, Plaza Mayor, Ciudad de entonces, Anochecer privado, Sur, paredón y después, Este verano en Malaga, and Travesía (Antología poética, 1955-2004). His newspaper columns have been published in four collections: Los otros días, Fondo perdido, Vuelta de hoja, and Málaga nuestra. As a poet he has been distinguished with the National Literature Prize, among other awards. As a columnist he has received the three principal awards of Spanish journalism: the Luca de Tena Prize, the Mariano de Cavia Prize and the César González-Ruano Prize He has been awarded an honorary degree from the Universidad de Málaga, is a Favorite Son of Malaga, and has received the Medal of Andalusia.

Mark C. Aldrich

Mark C. Aldrich es profesor de literatura española en Dickinson College y es el editor de esta revista.

Mark C. Aldrich is a professor of Spanish literature at Dickinson College and is the editor of this journal.