Track 13 - Cinco canciones Negras - III. Chévere

III. Chévere


by Nicolás Guillén
Chévere del navajazo
se vuelve él mismo navaja.

Pica tajadas de luna,
más la luna se le acaba;

pica tajadas de sombra
más la sombra se le acaba;

pica tajadas de canto,
más la canto se le acaba,

y entonces, pica que pica
carne de su negra mala!

III. The Man with a Knife Cavalier of the knife thrust

turns himself into a knife.

He cuts the moon up in slices,

but he runs out of moon;

he cuts shadows in slices,

but he runs out of shadows;

he cuts songs up in slices,

but he runs out of songs,

and then he slashes away

at the flesh of his bad black woman!