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DESPEDIDA - (submitted by pocho)

Zaida Cristina Renosa and husband Conrado Contreras Ledesma are family friends who live nearby in Chapala, Jalisco, a fishing village on Mexico's largest lake. She works as an author and professor of Spanish literature. He is an artist and architect. We are indebted to them for much of what we learned of the Mexican being and culture during early years of our expatriation to their nation.

Knowing not if paths would again cross at the end of our first year of friendship, we bid adios the evening before planning to travel north to the other side. There was a hand written poem by our door as the sun came up. I am reminded of its words when a companion in struggle moves on.


Despedida

 Deja que el remo descanse
y hunde tus pies en la espuma,
que mientras tiendo las redes
la barca queda sequra.

Fué bueno viajar contigo,
cruzar juntos la laguna,
compartir pan y trabajo
bajo el sol y entre la bruma.

Déjame llamarte "COMPAÑERO",

tú que aprendiste la canción del viento
y a leer en lo alto
de la gaviota al vuelo,

tú que aprendiste a extender
nuestras redes con acierto,
y a mi fatiga fuiste buen relevo,

Déjame llamarte "COMPAÑERO",

Sigue tu propia jornada,
mi ruta hasta aquí llegó,
el mar espera tu barca
empuña ahora tú el timón.

No duermas en la ribera
que ahora te espera el mar,
navega hacia otras tierras
ya nada te puede atar.

El viento sopla en las velas,
te acompaña mi canción,
busca tus propias fronteras,
empuña ahora tú el timón.


Zaida
Chapala, Jalisco
Diciembre de 1988

Farewell

 You leave the oar relaxed,
and sink your feet in the foam,
so while I spread the nets,
the boat stays still.

It was good to travel with you,
to traverse the lake together,
to divide bread and work,
under the sun and in the mist.

Let me call you "COMPANION",

you who learned the song of the wind,
and to discern from the height
of the sea gull's flight,

you who learned to cast
our nets with certainty,
and to relieve well my fatigue.

Let me call you "COMPANION".

Pursue your own course,
my trip's end is here,
the sea awaits your ship,
now grasp the rudder.

Don't slumber on the shore,
now that the sea awaits you,
sail toward other lands,
although none can keep you.

The wind blows in the sails,
my song goes with you,
seek your own boundries,
now grasp the rudder.


(English translation - Pocho)

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