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The Puerto Rican Literature Project The Puerto Rican Literature Project

176058 (Trans.)

Irizelma Robles Álvarez

2024

Give me my number

And on my wrist

was tattooed

the account

176058

belonging to room 1

in Pavia hospital.

 

I had already been assigned

my death number

and no one would call me a poet.

 

 

Translator's note:  The poet is playing with the expression "número de la suerte" or "lucky number," which here becomes "número de la muerte" or "death number."

Rights: Irizelma Robles Álvarez

176058

Irizelma Robles Álvarez

2024

Dadme mi número

y llevaba tatuado 

en mi muñeca el

número de cuenta

176058

de la habitación 1

en el hospital Pavía.

 

Ya tenía asignado 

el número de mi muerte 

y nadie me llamaría poeta.

 

Rights: Irizelma Robles Álvarez