Los Pobres by Roberto Sosa
Roberto Sosa is Honduras’ most famous living poet. This is one of several musical adaptations of his poems by the Honduran classic rock band Rajamadrex on YouTube. It’s a little unclear, but I’m guessing that the video itself was made by the band, or someone under their direction, and the captions were added much more recently by the YouTube poster, who goes by the handle Sanjeringas. Here’s the Spanish text along with my own translation.
| Los Pobres
Los pobres son muchos Seguramente Pueden Pero desconociendo sus tesoros Por eso |
The Poor
The poor are many: Doubtless They’re able But unaware of their gifts, they enter That’s why it’s impossible |
I did this translation 14 years ago as part of a chapbook I put together after a six-week visit to the country. I was in Honduras not just as a tourist but to attend my brother Mark’s wedding to a Honduran, my sister-in-law Luz, who is from the same small city as the just-deposed president, Mel Zelaya. The Honduran coup is therefore somewhat personal for me. Since Zelaya was deposed for siding with the poor and alienating large segments of the ruling elite, Sosa’s poem seems — sadly — as relevant as ever.
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Dave Bonta is a poet, editor, and web publisher from the Appalachian mountains of central Pennsylvania.
I really appreciate your post, especially as today marks the first anniversary of the death of this beloved poet. this poem in specific rather than trying to move us, trying to make us reflect on the power possessed by the people and that we barely noticed.
Hector O Chacon
08 April 2013 I graduated from High School in La Ceiba with Roberto Sosa who always had and showed exquisite sensibility and friendship. In reading your translation of Roberto’s poem Los Pobres, I felt that you have captured his sensibility.
Thanks for your kind words. It’s a pleasure to hear from someone who knew Sosa personally. He was a great poet and uncompromising in his politics, but always came across in interviews as unaffected and generous toward other poets.
Fico encantada por ver a tristeza expressada com tamanha beleza e sebsibilidade nos versos de Roberto Sosa. Honduras, com sua capital Tegucigalpa país de pessoas tão sofridas e ao mesmo tempo , tão ricas em sua expressão poética de viver situações de pobreza , invasão de seu território… Mundo, vasto e bonito mundo, quando conhecerá a paz tão sonhada por milhares de pessoas?