Translation of the song Soneto LIX artist Pablo Neruda

Pobres poetas a quienes la vida y la muerte

Poor poets who pursued life and death

persiguieron con la misma tenacidad sombría

with the same dismal tenacity

y luego son cubiertos por impasible pompa

and are then cloaked with apathetic pomp

entregados al rito y al diente funerario.

relegated to the rite and to the funerary tooth.

Ellos -oscuros como piedrecitas- ahora

They - dark as pebbles - are now

detrás de los caballos arrogantes, tendidos

behind the arrogant horses, they

van, gobernados al fin por los intrusos,

lean back, ultimately ruled by intruders,

entre los edecanes, a dormir sin silencio.

among the auxiliary, to sleep without silence.

Antes y ya seguros de que está muerto el muerto

In the past and by now certain that the dead are dead,

hacen de las exequias un festín miserable

they make the funeral rites a miserable feast

con pavos, puercos y otros oradores.

with turkeys, pigs, and other orators.

Acecharon su muerte y entonces la ofendieron:

They watched her death and then they offended her:

sólo porque su boca está cerrada

only because her mouth is closed

y ya no puede contestar su canto.

and her song can no longer answer.