My Friends - Carlos Aragón

(in semi-syncopated flow)
.
Where are they? Where are they?
Where are my old friends?
Those from our little school
and those from the university…
.
Juan studied medicine
he enjoyed conversation
now he is somewhere in Europe
he fled from the social year…
.
Cecilia studied law
intent on changing things
now she has her lawyer’s office
and likes champagne…
.
Where are they? Where are they?
Where are my old friends?
Those from our little school
and those from the university…
.
Pedro is an economist
he has given up music
he has sold his piano
and now only knows how to add…
.
Antonio was a humanist
he used to like to draw
now he is a publicist
who is very quick to collect…
.
Where are they? Where are they?
Where are my old friends?
Those from our little school
and those from the university…
.
There was one we didn’t know
who liked the sea
– his name was Felipe –
he had clear and tranquil eyes
and his walk was serene…
.
Today the guns roared,
the sea has started to cry,
they killed the one we didn’t know,
the struggle has now begun…
.
Where are they? Where are they?
Where are my old friends?
Those from our little school
and those from the university…

---

Carlos Aragón (195?-1981)
Translated by by Keith Ellis
Source: Zócalo Poets