Aquella rata de pelo grisáceo
yacía destripada junto a la acera.
Yo la cogí del rabo
para asustar a las niñas del barrio
y mi madre premió mi hazaña
con un merecido sopapo.
Aquella rata tenía las tripas
del color de la bandera.
La rata había muerto
en la calle donde moría el pueblo
y yo me fui con media cara roja
a llorar mientras el sol se ponía tras las chumberas.
Seven (Valencia), sábado 20 de febrero de 2010
THE RAT
That grey-haired rat
was lying with its guts out by the sidewalk.
I picked it up by its tail
to scare the girls from my quarter
and my mom rewarded my exploit
with a well-deserved slap.
That rat’s guts colours
were those of the flag.
The rat had died
in the street where the village died
and I, half of my face red,
went away to cry while the sun set behind the prickly pears.
Seven (
