Hija
bueno, ella estaba borracha, ó
perdió los zapatos
o andaba drogada,
o era promiscua, ó
¿QUÉ llevaba puesto?
o su mamá era una irresponsable
o era demasiado hermosa
demasiado confiada
demasiado abierta
Gracias a Dios, ella no era mi hija
la que vive en tu casa,
en tu calle
pertenece a tu iglesia
asiste a tu escuela
trabaja en tu oficina
ella es tu hija
ella es tu madre
ella es tu
ella es tu vida
Ella es tu
Bobbe Besold
Versión al español: Pilar Rodríguez Aranda
ORIGINAL EN INGLÉS:
Daughter
1.
Even women who should know better say:
well she was drunk, or
she lost her shoes,
or she was on drugs,
or she was promiscuous, or
what WAS she wearing?
or her mother was irresponsible
or she was too beautiful
too trusting
too opón
well she was drunk, or
she lost her shoes,
or she was on drugs,
or she was promiscuous, or
what WAS she wearing?
or her mother was irresponsible
or she was too beautiful
too trusting
too opón
She wasn’t MY daughter
Thank God, she wasn’t my daughter
Thank God, she wasn’t my daughter
Well she is your daughter.
She’s the one with the freaky dyed hair, or she’s standing on the corner with a cardboard sign and a little dog, she’s wearing a t-shirt, soccer shorts, a military uniform, a bathing suit, a prayer shawl, a veil and high heels, she’s in a church pew dozing off, she’s getting Batmitzvahed, casting a circle, building a sand castle… she’s on a bus, riding the subway, driving too fast, driving too slow, she’s holding your hand, she’s shaved her head, pierced her lip.. she’s making Nikes in a factory, bagels at a bakery, she’s in your face at the protest, broke her personal best, broke the bank, broke the colt, she’s smoking a cigarette, getting drunk, getting high, eating ice cream, eating rice, or junk food at the mall. Or she’s got nothing, nothing at all.
She’s been sold, she was raped, she was murdered, mauled by shrapnel, poisoned by pesticides, killed by a drunk driver, she was strangled at a concert and stuffed behind a coke machine.
She’s the one,
who lives in your house,
on your street
belongs to your church
goes to your school
works in your office
who lives in your house,
on your street
belongs to your church
goes to your school
works in your office
she’s your sister
she’s your daughter
she’s your mother
she’s your daughter
she’s your mother
she’s your
she’s your
she’s your life
she’s your
she’s your life
2.
What does it mean to be human? What is this rock we stand on, that grows our food, makes the water we drink and the air we breathe? What is in your heart? What does it mean to love another, every other? What does it mean to create? To care? What is beauty? What are you? What are you going to do about it? What, what are you going to do about the magic that there is all around you, every minute of your little life?
She’s your
She’s your
She’s your
She’s your life
Bobbe Besold’s primary focus is to create art for Earth’s sake, in part by engaging, educating and collaborating with community. In 2010, she was part of the core team that created Flash Flood in the Santa Fe River for 350.org. Her art and design (2011 – 2012) called “Watershed” was cast into concrete walls for a pedestrian underpass for the City of Santa Fe. She is currently working in collaboration with artists Valerie Martinez and Dominique Mazeaud, on the community engagement project Rivers Run Through Us: to generate understanding about the Santa Fe River, water and place. Besold has over 35 years of experience in all art media. www.bobbebesold.com