Amualmi Lafkenpüle / Cuando de viaje salgas al mar

Poeta: Bernardo Colipán 

Traducción: Jade Quinn-McDonald

WHEN TRAVELLING GO OUT TO SEA
For Alen and the day
she stepped foot into this life
When traveling, my girl, go out to sea,
always keep Wenteyao in your heart.
The journey is your destination.
Do not fear Kanillo, Kalkus and Anchimallenes;
you will never find such spirits
unless your soul puts them in your path.
I wish, Alen, that your path be long.
Stop
in Pucatriwe, Choroy
Triague.
Collect, like your ancestors, rulamas
lunfo and algae above all else,
all types of algae.
With the shumpall of Caleta Manzano
share your mother’s sweet songs.
But don’t rush your trip at all,
it will be better the more rivers you cross.
I pray, my little one, that your horse does not move
clumsily.
Stop your voyage in the catrihues.
Behind a blue sky they will speak to you in hushed
voices.
And if you find the island
the old man has not deceived you.
Beautiful, how you got to it, you will know
of the place
where the birds go
to be born with eyes closed.