There was a shadow without the tranquillity of the shade (Era una sombra sin el sosiego de una sombra)

To my mum and my sisters, from my Dad’s book Urgent Poetry (Poesía de urgencia).

There was a shadow without the tranquillity of the shade (Era una sombra sin el sosiego de una sombra)

I used to stop on the edge of her tenderness

to see her exercise her profession

of being a woman.

She used to share her little ones’ dolls.

And the school homework.

She would understand without difficulty

the mumble of their arguments.

And when a discovery got mixed in their questions

one could hear the wisdom

of the erudite and ingenious answers.

She wanted to remain by their side

and make them hers as they were.

The ultimate love

was not as powerful as their tenderness.

And in order to have them under her shade

she preferred the inclemency of the weather.

And she needed shade.