Mario Benedetti one of the greatest poets of Latin America passed away Monday. He will always be missed. LA Times had a good article about him. Spain was deeply moved and ABC, El Pais and El Mundo published marvelous pieces on his gentle spirit.
I hope more of his works get translated into English, his poetry will live forever. In the meantime I have translated, and adapted to English one of my favorite poems from this great man.
Tactic and Strategy
My tactic is to watch you,
and learn who you are,
and love you as you are.
My tactic is to talk with you and listen,
and construct with words
an indestructible bridge.
My tactic is to abide in your memory and
I don’t know how, or using what excuse,
to remain in you forever.
My tactic is to be frank and know
you are also frank
so neither of us is merely
selling maneuvers, and between
us there is neither curtain nor abyss.
My strategy is however much
deeper and simpler.
My strategy is that one ordinary
day I don’t know how or with
what excuse, at last you
will truly need me.
- Mario Benedetti. Latin American poet, gentle spirit, great man.
Thanks go to my friend Bruce Pope for his valuable suggestions.
Tactica y Estrategia - Original
Mi táctica es mirarte,
aprender como sos, quererte como sos.
Mi táctica es hablarte y escucharte,
construir con palabras
un puente indestructible.
Mi táctica es quedarme en tu recuerdo.
No sé cómo ni sé con qué pretexto,
pero quedarme en vos.
Mi táctica es ser franco y saber que sos franca
y que no nos vendamos simulacros,
para que entre los dos no haya telón ni abismos.
Mi estrategia es en cambio
más profunda y más simple.
Mi estrategia es que un día
cualquiera no sé cómo
ni sé con qué pretexto
por fin me necesites.
