Nicolás Guillén: Riddles

Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista (1902‑1989).

The poem belongs to West Indies, Ltd. (1934).

Riddles

The teeth, filled with the morning,
and the hair, filled with the night.
Who is it? It's him, or it's not him?
— The black man.

Though she being woman and not beautiful,
you'll do what she orders you.
Who is it? It's him, or it's not him?
— The hunger.

Slave of the slaves,
and towards the masters, tyrant.
Who is it? It's him, or it's not him?
— The cane.

Noise of a hand
that never ignores the other.
Who is it? It's him, or it's not him?
— The almsgiving.

A man who is crying
going on with the laugh he learned.
Who is it? It's him, or it's not him?
— Me.

En los dientes, la mañana,
y la noche en el pellejo.
¿Quién será, quién no será?
—El negro.

Con ser hembra y no ser bella,
harás lo que ella te mande.
¿Quién será, quién no será?
—El hambre.

Esclava de los esclavos,
y con los dueños, tirana.
¿Quién será, quién no será?
—La caña.

Escándalo de una mano
que nunca ignora a la otra.
¿Quién será, quién no será?
—La limosna.

Un hombre que está llorando
con la risa que aprendió.
¿Quién será, quién no será?
—Yo.

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