LA DEUDA
Cuánto le debo a mi padre
cuánto le debo a mi madre
Cuánto le debo a la vida
que la cuenta no me dá.
Treinta años de ternura
de consejos treinta años
sin meter los nueve meses
con eso tampoco me dá.
Los cuidados de mi padre
las bendiciones de mi madre
esas noches de desvelos
por somera enfermedad.
Esa paciencia infinita
de soportar mis travesuras
y el regaño de mi padre
con eso tampoco me dá.
La educación que me dieron
los gastos de escolaridad
de primaria a bachiller
hasta la Universidad.
Los padres no necesitan
que tú le pagues ná
porque mañana serás tú
quien te tengas que endeudar.
Con el cariño te endeudarás
según sea tu crianza
sumándole tu ternura
la deuda se abultará.
Es una deuda con la vida
que la vida te dará
para que tengas con qué
a tus hijos resguardar.
Mis padres se empeñaron
tomando de la vida lo mejor
los más altos valores
de las querencias y del amor.
THE DEBT
How much do I owe my father?
How much do I owe my mother?
How much do I owe life?
The math just doesn't add up.
Thirty years of tenderness, thirty years of advice,
not counting the nine months, but that's not enough either.
My father's care, my mother's blessings, those sleepless nights,
because of minor illnesses.
That infinite patience
to endure my mischief,
and my father's scolding,
but that's not enough either.
The education they gave me, the school expenses,
from elementary to high school, all the way to university.
Parents don't need you to pay them anything,
because tomorrow you'll be the one
who'll have to go into debt.
With love, you'll go into debt,
depending on how you were raised,
adding your tenderness,
the debt will grow.
It's a debt to life
that life will repay you
so that you have what
to protect your children.
My parents were determined
to take the best from life
the highest values
of affection and love.