At the first sign of spring
The old people stroll
Into Santiago's Plaza de Armas
And park themselves on the iron benches
One leg crossed over the other
To enjoy the fresh air
Under a storm of gray pigeons.

These colorful birds and the old people
Feed off each other:
The old people give peanuts to the birds
Who in turn
gently pick
The strands of meat from their teeth.

The old people are to the pigeons
What crocodiles are to angels.

translated by David Unger
traducido por David Unger

en: Antipoems: New and Selected (edited by David Unger), New York, New Directions, 1985.