THE CHRIST OF ELQUI TAKES ON THE SHAMELESS BOSSES


The bosses are out to lunch
they want everyone to work for nothing
they never put themselves in the workers' shoes

hey boy chop me some wood
when are you going to kill those rats
I didn't get a minute's sleep last night
make water spring from that rock
the Mrs. has to attend a fancy party
go and get me some pearls
at the bottom of the sea please

then there are the real bastards
press this shirt for me asshole
shithook bring me a tree from the forest
get down on your knees fuckhead
go check those fuses
And if I get electrocuted?
The rock could fall on top of me!
What if I run into a lion in the forest?
aww
that's no big deal
it's hardly worth mentioning

the one thing that really matters
is for the gentleman to read his paper in peace
to yawn when he damn well pleases
to listen to all the classical music he wants

who cares if the boy cracks his skull
if he comes crashing down
while welding steel beams
what's the big deal
these halfbreeds are born fools

let him go fuck himself
and then: gee I don't know what happened
you don't know how sorry I am ma'am
2 or 3 pats on the back
and a widow with her seven little chicks gone to hell

 

 

translated by David Unger
traducido por David Unger

 

 

 

en: Antipoems: New and Selected (edited by David Unger), New York, New Directions, 1985.


SISIB - Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades - Universidad de Chile