Quisiera Ser

I'd Like To

I’d like to make

Poetry like

Pablo Neruda,

Octavio Paz,

Gabriela Mistral,

Julieta Parra,

And much more…

I’m nothing

Compared to them.

I’m no-one

Besides them.

I’m a mortal,

Who’s not even behind them.

I use plain words

To write nonsense phrases.

They use only words

To write magical rhymes.

I barely speak Spanish,

My mother language,

And this is in English,

Shame on me.

The fortune,

The fate,

The muses

Have they laughed at me?

Would I ever be great?

Would somebody remember me?

Would I ever be known?

We’re all concerned

About life after dead,

Want to know how make it

Once you’re gone?

Have many, many

Friends as you can,

Because,

They’d be the ones

Who’d tell your story.

So,

Be nice,

Be kind,

Be gentle,

Be soft,

Be warm to them.

And hopefully…

They will mention

Your name and your story

More than once.