Carnavalito quebradeño
The quebradeño carnaval is calling, my cholita,[1]
Fiesta of Quebrada de Humahuaca, to sing!
Erke, charango and bombo[2]—the carnavalito to dance!
Doña Ubensa
I go weeping on the inside
although I laugh on the outside,
so too must I live
while waiting to die.
I yield to the winds
because I cannot fly
until I seize my caja
and begin to sing the baguala.[3]
My people pray, what do they ask for,
there on the mountain of charity,
they have no time, they can endure no more,
pray and pray — for what?.
Loud cries across the rocky terrain,
stone by stone the wind comes,
erasing the traces of my sorrow,
pure silence is my heart.
I cross myself, just
in case God exists
and carries me off to hell
with all my little sheep .
I don’t know if there will be another world
where souls sigh,
I go about on the earth
working all day long.
Gala del dia(Finery of the day)
I love the light of dawn because it kisses you,
And makes you alive, alive and fanciful.
Straight ear of grain in the wind of midday
I love the sun that gilds you, ripe and mine.
Alas! Heart of the night, finery of the day!
My life, I am longing for your happiness!
When the afternoon cries for its lost light,
I love the song you put in my life.
I love you as much as the night that is infinite
As your sweet hour, dark and warm.
Alas! Heart of the night, finery of the day!
My life, I am longing for your happiness!
Juramento (I swear)
If love causes deep pain
and condemns us to a life of misery,
I would give you, my dear,
even the blood in my veins for your love.
If love is the source of mystical burdens
and makes us drag long chains,
I swear to you I'll drag them over
the infinite, dark seas of my sorrows.
Te quiero (I love you)
If I love you, it's because you're
my love, my confidant, my all;
And arm-in-arm in the street,
we are so much more than two.
Your hands are my caress,
my daily affirmations;
I love you because your hands
work for justice.
Your eyes are my talisman
against an evil day,
I love you for your gaze
that looks to and sows the future.
Your mouth is yours and also mine,
Your mouth makes no mistakes;
I love you because your mouth
knows how to shout defiance.
If I love you, it's because you're
my love, my confidant, my all;
And arm-in-arm in the street,
we are so much more than two.
Because of your sincere face
and wandering steps
And your tears for the world,
because you are the people, I love you.
And because love isn't saintly
or a simple moral
And because we are a couple
that knows it is not alone.
I love you in my paradise,
that is, in my ideal country,
where people live happily
even if they are not permitted.
If I love you, it's because you're
my love, my confidant, my all,
And arm-in-arm in the street,
we are so much more than two.
[1]Quebradeño: from the region called Quebrada de Humahuaca;cholita: diminutive form of chola, a Latin American term for a woman of mixed Spanish and indigenous ancestry. It especially refers to the Aymara women of the Andes whose distinctive garb includes colorful shawls and skirts with boots and bowler hats.
[2]erke: a long wind instrument made of cane; charango: a small guitar-like instrument; bombo: bass drum
[3]The baguala is a traditonal form of Argentine music, often accompanied by guitar and a drum called caja.