Translation of the song Paloma ausente artist Violeta Parra
Paloma ausente
Absent Dove
Cinco noches que lloro
Five are the nights I cry
por los caminos,
In the paths
cinco cartas escritas
Five are the written letters
se llevó el viento,
Taken by the wind
cinco pañuelos negros
Five are the black kerchieves
son los testigos
They are the witness
de los cinco dolores
Of the five sorrows
que llevo adentro.
I have inside me
Paloma ausente,
Absent Dove
blanca paloma,
White Dove
rosa naciente.
Blooming Rose
Paso lunas enteras
I spend whole moons
mirando al cielo
Looking at the sky
con un solo deseo
With only one wish
en el pensamiento:
On my mind:
que no descienda herida
That it doesn't comes down hurt
mi palomita,
My dove
la que viene fundida
The one that comes molten
a los elementos.
To the elements
Dice un papel escrito
It says, in a paper written
con tinta verde
With green ink,
que teniendo paciencia
That with some patience
todo se alcanza.
Everything can be reached
Una que bien la tuvo
One that got it
salió bailando
Went to dance
de su jardín al arco
From its garden to the Ark
de las alianzas.
Of the Covenant
Una jaula del aire
A cage in the air
viene bajando
Is coming down
con todos sus barrotes
With all its bars
de calamina.
Of calamity
Todos los pajarillos
All the little birds
vienen trinando,
Are trilling
sin embargo, distingo
Although that, I can tell apart
a mi golondrina.
My Swallow
Voy a ponerme un traje
I'm going to put on
de mariposa
A buttlefly's suit
mañana cuando llegue
Tomorrow, when it arrives
mi palomita,
My dove
en los dedos banderas
In the fingers, flags
de tres colores
Of three colors
y en las pestañas miles
And in the eyelashes, thousand
de candelillas
Of small candles.