Another translation: Cain and Abel - Juan Carlos Bautista

Cain and Abel

Juan Carlos Bautista

While on my back

                        he hardly made a sound

but his beast riotously

                        ate my ass.

A silent man in times of war.

I said this hungry man is my brother.

And I opened up delicately

                        like a hyacinth

opens when an ox steps on it.

I fed him water from my mouth,

hands that were handkerchiefs to his forehead,

my back like a piece of bread,

and eyes that knew when to close.

I said this man is my brother  

while he was on top of me

and I love him

because we’re equally poor

and we’re equally hungry.

—Talk about an incest—he responded when I’m done with the recital.

—Yes—I replied with a certain resignation.

Cain y Abel

Juan Carlos Bautista

Trepado en mí
                        casi no hacía ruidos,
            pero desaforadamente
                        su bestia comía de mi culo.
            Un hombre silencioso en tiempos de guerra.

            Este hambriento –dije– es mi hermano.
            Y me abrí delicadamente
                                   como un jacinto a la pisada del buey.

            Le di agua de mi boca,
            manos que fueron pañuelos para su frente,
            mi espalda como un pan
            y ojos que supieron cerrarse a tiempo.

            Trepado en mí,
dije este hombre es mi hermano
y lo quiero
porque somos igual de pobres
y estamos igual de hambrientos.

—Habla de un incesto—contestó Él cuando terminé la lectura.

—Sí —respondí con cierta resignación.