17 Pens

IF DEATH…
by Miguel Huezo Mixco
(translated by Claribel Alegria and Darwin J.Flakoll)

If death should come asking for me
do me the favor
of telling him to come back tomorrow
because I still haven’t paid my debts
nor finished a poem
nor said goodbye to anyone
nor prepared clothing for the trip
nor delivered that package I promised to
nor locked up my desk drawers
nor told my friends what I should have
nor sniffed the fragrance of the unborn rose
nor laid bare my roots
nor answered an overdue letter
because I haven’t even washed my hands
or known a son
or gone hiking in unknown countries
nor do i know the sea’s seven sails
nor the song of mariners
If death should come
please tell him I understand
and to wait a bit
because I haven’t kissed my sweetheart goodbye
nor shaken hands with my family
nor dusted my books
nor whistled my favorite song
nor become reconcilied with my enemies
tell him I haven’t yet attempted suicide
nor seen my people freed
tell him if he comes to return tomorrow
that it’s not because i fear him but because
I haven’t even set off along the road.