XX Anniversary

By Pablo Armando Fernandez

	On the farm there are, Abel
Cherries, mangoes and plums.
There are men, like then, working
in the chicken coups
(camouflage to hide the cars)
The farm is painted white
and on the porch are palm nuts;
old man Nunez talks with the workers
about you, while they wait.
What can be keeping you in the city?
Outside there are Mangoes on the lawn
and in the branches, cherries
and yellow and red plums.
There's nothing lacking here, Abel.
Everything begins to fulfill itself during the last twenty years!
	
Santiago was never as festive as now.
At the Rex, Lolo continues, punctual
to attend, to the guests in room 36
Mario Cabrera, in the kitchen picks up 
steak sandwiches (he doesn't know it)
that Elpidio will eat this evening
Have you shown Renato, the ruler
with all its positions, what do you think? Good?
Lolo tells his friends
how fascinated you are with raising chickens!
Everything begins to fulfill itself during the last twenty years!


	The visitors sign
the book. They come from all parts of the world.
There are large inscriptions in the Chinese characters;
There are others in occidental languages;
amid the branches of the mango orchard, the birds chirp and sing.
The visitors tour around the place
and hear the history that silently fell
uniforms and rifles, shoes and handkerchiefs.
Everything begins to fulfill itself during these last twenty years!
	
Are you dreaming? no. You are awake
laid out on the floor.
(Ramon Salmon enters and closes the door)
Elpidio and you chat.
Open is the farm to the visitors
and there are mangoes and cherries and plums
like lively colors on the lawn.
The Chinese Alfonso Joa (today is Saturday)
rolls a bunch of cigars between his hands
and smiles. Everything is as you wanted it; you're not dreaming.
You are awake drinking coffee brewed by Josefa.
She likes to hear you; "An educated young man, 
who charms when he speaks with those gentlemanly ways…"
Angel agrees, he likes to hear you speak
of your projects and he hopes that the farm
will grow to reach the slope of the hill.
Young gentleman, all Santiago is yours.
The farm and the city are open,
and you give them to the people
looking in the eyes of those who receive them
as another of your gestures of love;
During the last twenty years everything begins to fulfill itself!

					Translated from the Spanish by Nina Serrano 1980

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