–

al final

donde hacían sus estiramientos

después de salir de las curvas.

era un hombre pequeño

rosado, calvo, gordo

es sus sesentas.

estaba tocando violín

estaba tocando música clásica en

su violín

y los apostadores de caballos lo ignoraban.

Banker Agent ganó la primera carrera

y él tocaba su violín.

Can Fly ganó la 3ra carrera y

él continuaba tocando su violín.

fui por un café y cuando regresé

seguía tocando, y aún seguía tocando

después de que Boomerang ganara la 4ta.

nadie lo paraba

nadie le preguntaba por lo que hacía

nadie aplaudía.

luego de que Pawee ganó la 5ta

él continuó

la música cayendo por el borde de la

tribuna y más allá del

viento y el sol.

Stars and Stripes ganó la 6ta

y él tocó algo más

y Staunch Hope se metió por el interior

para tomar la 7ma

y el violinista tocaba de nuevo

y cuando Lucky Mike ganó 4 a 5 en la 8va

él seguía haciendo música.

luego de que Dumptyʹs Goddess tomara la última

y todos empezaran a caminar el largo

y lento camino hacia sus autos

derrotados y en la ruina de nuevo

el violinista continuaba

mandando su música tras ellos

y me senté a escuchar

ambos estábamos solos allí y

cuando acabó aplaudí.

el violinista se paró

me miró y se inclinó.

luego puso su violín en la caja

se irguió y bajó por las gradas.

le dejé unos pocos minutos

y luego me paré

y empecé el largo y lento camino hacia mi auto.

estaba anocheciendo.

–
–
________________________
–
–
the violin player
–
–
he was in the upper grandstand

at the end

where they made their stretch moves

after coming off the curve.

he was a small man

pink, bald, fat

in his 60’s.

he was playing a violin

he was playing classical music on

his violin

and the horseplayers ignored him.

Banker Agent won the first race

and he played his violin.

Can Fly won the 3rd race and

he continued to play his violin.

I went to get a coffee and when I came back

he was still playing, and he was still playing

after Boomerang won the 4th.

nobody stopped him

nobody asked him what he was doing

nobody applauded.

after Pawee won the 5th

he continued

the music falling over the edge of the

grandstand and into the

wind and sun.

Stars and Stripes won the 6th

and he played some more

and Staunch Hope got up on the inside

to take the 7th

and the violin player worked away

and when Lucky Mike won at 4 to 5 in the 8th

he was still making music.

after Dumpty’s Goddess took the last

and they began their long slow walk to their cars

beaten and broke again

the violin player continued

sending his music after them

and I sat there listening

we were both alone up there and

when he finished I applauded.

the violin player stood up

faced me and bowed.

then he put his fiddle in the case

got up and walked down the stairway.

I allowed him a few minutes

and then I got up

and began the long slow walk to my car.

it was getting into evening.

–

–
Charles Bukowski

–

En Play the Piano Drunk Like a Percussion Instrument Until The Fingers Begin To Bleed a Bit

Traducción: Eduardo Espinoza Lecca, María García

–