lewis carroll

traducción de frank báez

canción del jardinero loco

Creyó ver un Elefante,

un Elefante que tocaba la flauta;

mirando mejor, vio que era

una carta de su mujer.

“En fin -dijo-, ¡ya sé

que la vida es amarga!”

Creyó ver un Búfalo

instalado en la chimenea;

mirando mejor, vio que era

la sobrina de su cuñado:

“¡Salga de allí -dijo-, si no,

llamo a la policía!”

Creyó ver una Serpiente

que lo interpelaba en griego;

mirando mejor, vio que era

el jueves de la semana próxima.

“¡Yo sólo siento -dijo-

que no me pueda hablar!”

Creyó ver un Empleado de Banco

que descendía de un ómnibus;

mirando mejor, vio que era

un enorme hipopótamo.

“¡Si se queda -dijo- a almorzar,

qué dirá mi mujer!”

Creyó ver un Canguro

que hacía girar un molinillo;

mirando mejor, vio que era

una píldora vegetal.

“¡Para tragarse esto -dijo-

hay que sentirse muy mal!”

Creyó ver un Coche de seis caballos

detenido no lejos de su cama;

mirando mejor, vio que era

un oso decapitado.

“¡Pobre animal -dijo-, pobre animal estúpido!

¡Está esperando su cena!”

Creyó ver un Albatros

que revoloteaba alrededor de un candil;

mirando mejor, vio que era

una estampilla de dos centavos.

“¡Usted debería entrar -dijo-,

las noches son muy húmedas!”

Creyó ver un Portón

que se abría por medio de una llave;

mirando mejor, vio que era

una regla de tres compuesta.

“¡Sus misterios -dijo- son para mí

tan claros como el día!”

Creyó ver un Argumento

que probaba que él era el Papa;

mirando mejor, vio que era

un pedazo de jabón.

“¡Gran Dios -dijo-, un suceso así

ya no deja esperanzas!”

the mad gardener’s song

He thought he saw an Elephant,
  That practised on a fife:
He looked again, and found it was
  A letter from his wife.
"At length I realise," he said,
  "The bitterness of Life!"


He thought he saw a Buffalo
  Upon the chimney-piece:
He looked again, and found it was
  His Sister's Husband's Niece.
"Unless you leave this house," he said,
  "I'll send for the Police!"


He thought he saw a Rattlesnake
  That questioned him in Greek:
He looked again, and found it was
  The Middle of Next Week.
"The one thing I regret," he said,
  "Is that it cannot speak!"


He thought he saw a Banker's Clerk
  Descending from the bus:
He looked again, and found it was
  A Hippopotamus.
"If this should stay to dine," he said,
  "There won't be much for us!"


He thought he saw a Kangaroo
  That worked a coffee-mill:
He looked again, and found it was
  A Vegetable-Pill.
"Were I to swallow this," he said,
  "I should be very ill!"


He thought he saw a Coach-and-Four
  That stood beside his bed:
He looked again, and found it was
  A Bear without a Head.
"Poor thing," he said, "poor silly thing!
  It's waiting to be fed!"


He thought he saw an Albatross
  That fluttered round the lamp:
He looked again, and found it was
  A Penny-Postage Stamp.
"You'd best be getting home," he said:
  "The nights are very damp!"


He thought he saw a Garden-Door
  That opened with a key:
He looked again, and found it was
  A Double Rule of Three:
"And all its mystery," he said,
  "Is clear as day to me!"


He thought he saw a Argument
  That proved he was the Pope:
He looked again, and found it was
  A Bar of Mottled Soap.
"A fact so dread," he faintly said,
  "Extinguishes all hope!"

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