Russia is waging a disgraceful war on Ukraine.     Stand With Ukraine!
  • Héctor Gagliardi

    La maestra → English translation

Share
Font size
Proofreading requested
Original lyrics
Swap languages

La maestra

Tan buena como mi vieja
y como ella nerviosa,
de las que agrandan las cosas
y que por nada se quejan.
Tenía entre ceja y ceja
esa cuestión del aseo,
en lo mejor del recreo
revisaba las orejas.
 
Decía que un pajarito
al oído le contaba
los niños que conversaban
cuando salía un ratito.
Y si un grandote de quinto
armaba la tremolina
parecía una gallina
cuando tira los pollitos.
 
Nos tomaba la lección
siguiendo el orden de lista
y obligaba con la vista
a escuchar con atención;
yo era medio remolón
porque andaba por la "G"
y cien veces me chasquié
al preguntar de a traición.
 
Se pasaba todo el día
prometiendo malas notas
y que en vez de la pelota
estudiaran geometría.
Era mujer... y una mujer que sabía
de un golcito de boleo...
Por eso es que en el recreo
los muchachos se reían...
 
Pero una vez se enfermó
y mandaron la suplente
que enseñaba diferente
y hasta de "usted" nos trató;
y nosotros... ¡qué sé yo!...
sería mejor maestra
pero fieles a la nuestra
declaramos el boicot.
 
Y cuando vino al grado
después de la enfermedad
nos pusimos a gritar
que casi la desmayamos
y cuando vio tantas manos
que la querían tocar
de dulce se echó a llorar
y nosotros la imitamos.
 
¡Pobre maestra mía!
¡Cómo estarás de vieja!...
Revisame las orejas
soy un chico todavía.
No sabés con que alegría
quisiera volverte a ver
no me vas a conocer
pero entonces te diría:
 
Yo ocupaba el tercer banco
al lado de la ventana
el que abría las persianas
cuando el sol no daba tanto.
El que se ahogaba de llanto
el día en que te dejó
y que nunca, nunca te olvidó
y es por eso que te canto.
 
Vos sos esa dulce canción
de la edad... de la edad que ya se fue,
por eso vine otra vez
para darte la lección:
pregúntame de a traición
maestra del cuarto grado
que cuanto me has enseñado
lo llevo en el corazón...
 
Translation

Teacher

As good as my mother
and nervous just like her ,
the kind that makes things big
and who would complain about nothing.
She had a thing about cleanliness
and during recess just at the right time
would check behind our ears.
 
It is said that a little bird
would tell her of
the children who would talk
when she left for a while.
And if a big fifth grader
started to make a scene
She looked like a chicken
rounding up her chicks.
 
She took in our work
in order
and made us with her glance
listen carefully;
I was a bit of a slacker
because i flunked a lot
and a hundred times I messed up
when hit with a surprise quiz
 
She spent all day
promising bad grades
and that instead of playing soccer
we should study geometry.
She was a woman ... and a woman who knew
a little bit of the Boleo ...
That's why at recess
the boys laughed among themselves.
 
But once she got sick
and they sent a substitute
who taught differently
and treated us formally;
and we ... what do I know! ...
She probably was a better teacher
but faithful to ours
We declared a boycott.
 
And when she came to our graduation
after the illness
we started shouting
that we almost made her faint
and when she saw so many hands
that wanted to touch her
of sweetnees she burst into tears
and so did we.
 
Poor teacher of mine!
How old you might be! ...
Check behind my ears
I am still a boy.
You do not know with what joy
I would like to see you again
you will not know me
but then I would say:
 
I occupied the third seat
next to the window
the one that opened the blinds
when the sun did not give much.
The one who choked on tears
the day he left you
and that never, never will forget you
and that's why I sing to you.
 
You are that sweet song
of that time ... of the that time that has already left,
that's why I came again
to hand in my work:
quiz me
fourth grade teacher
how much have you taught me
I carry it in my heart ...
 
The author of translation requested proofreading.
It means that he/she will be happy to receive corrections, suggestions etc about the translation.
If you are proficient in both languages of the language pair, you are welcome to leave your comments.
Héctor Gagliardi: Top 3
Comments
LfonsecaLfonseca
   Sat, 22/12/2018 - 12:31

Thank you. I was not able to go beyond f grade wise.

Valeriu RautValeriu Raut
   Sat, 22/12/2018 - 20:07

The same with me:
I have never been a talented pupil.

Please chose an avatar, an image to represent you on LT.