GUSTAVO TISOCCO  LO QUE DEFIENDO (Traducido por Irene Marks)

De pequeño me gustaban las muñecas Barbies

esas de pelo dorado y vestido turquesa

que mi hermana peinaba y maquillaba

mientras yo, resignado, empujaba aquel

camioncito por la vereda.

Me hubiese gustado

una coronita en la comunión,

una cartita de amor

de aquel que no me amó,

una sonrisa.

Saberme igual a los que me rodeaban,

preparar mi cuerpo para el hijo,

un vestido blanco,

ser reina en primavera.

Me hubiese gustado elegir

ser común y terrestre,

acaso un insecto, acaso una llave.

Pero no pude ser más de lo que defiendo ahora.

Gustavo Tisocco

WHAT I DEFEND (Translated by Irene Marks)

As a little boy I liked Barbie dolls

those golden-haired ones wearing a turquoise dress

that my sister would comb and make up

while I, resigned, used to push

that  little truck on the sidewalk.

I would have liked

a little crown for my communion,

a little love letter

from the boy who did not love me,

a smile.

To know I am the same as those around me,

to prepare my body for my child,

a white dress,

to be a spring beauty queen.

I would have liked the chance to choose

to be ordinary and earthy,

perhaps an insect, perhaps a key.

 But I could not be anything else but what I now defend.