Poets Corner: Don't Save Yourself

Don't Save Yourself

by Mario Benedetti Translated from Spanish

Don't stay motionless

by the side of the road, don't suspend joy

or love halfheartedly don't save yourself now or ever. don't save yourself. don't fill yourself

with calm. don't reserve a still corner in this world don't let your eyelids droop heavy like judgements don't forsake your lips don't go to sleep

without heavy eyes, don't consider yourself bloodless

Don't judge yourself

without time. But if, despite it all, you can't help it and you suspend joy and you love halfheartedly and you save yourself, and you become calm, reserve a still corner in the world let your eyelids droop heavy as judgements and remain without lips and sleep without cause, imagine yourself bloodless, judge yourself in haste and Stay motionless by the side of the road and you save yourself

then Do not stay with me.

No Te Salves Mario Benedetti No te quedes inmóvil al borde del camino no congeles el júbilo no quieras con desgana no te salves ahora ni nunca no te salves no te llenes de calma no reserves del mundo sólo un rincón tranquilo no dejes caer los párpados pesados como juicios no te quedes sin labios no te duermas sin sueño no te pienses sin sangre no te juzgues sin tiempo

pero si pese a todo no puedes evitarlo y congelas el júbilo y quieres con desgana y te salvas ahora y te llenas de calma y reservas del mundo sólo un rincón tranquilo y dejas caer los párpados pesados como juicios y te secas sin labios y te duermes sin sueño y te piensas sin sangre y te juzgas sin tiempo y te quedas inmóvil al borde del camino y te salvas entonces no te quedes conmigo.

Artwork by Kaye Blegvad©

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