How much is the child on the corner by the Bank?

Is he worth this morningÕs deposits in Chase?
Is he worth the alms that on Sunday
the tourists leave between taking photographs?
Is he worth all that was not sold today by the Oil Company?

Is he worth the forty cartridge clips,
the thirty thousand empty scabbards,
the fifty smuggled bayonets?

Is he worth the tithe, the bribe, the special
discount to pay off the installment?
Is he worth a diamond or a burnt cork?

What is the value of this child, Mr. President?
Is he worth a vacancy in the Disunited Nations?
Is he worth the playing card of the Fund?
Is he worth a blockade, a demand, a fist
raising its threat of theatrical props?

And if he were raised as an arriving missile,
is he worth the dignity of his grub?

What is his value with his shirt
torn by vacant lots and misery?
Is he worth a contract for twelve annual goals?
Is he worth an actor on a billboard?
Is he worth the payment of uprooting
or a retirement of privilege?

How much is the child on the corner by the Bank?
Hurry, this is urgent!
Because the carrion prowl
with a bag in their hand.

Copyright 2006 by Gabriel Impaglione.  Translated by Ron Hudson and Maria G. Piccini.

Cu‡nto vale el ni–o de la esquina del banco?

Vale los dep—sitos del Chase de esta ma–ana?
Vale la limosna que el domingo
dejaron los turistas entre una foto y otra?
Vale todo lo que hoy no vendi— la Oil Company?

Vale las cuarenta cartucheras,
las treinta mil vainas servidas,
las cincuenta bayonetas traficadas?

Vale el diezmo, la coima, el descuento
especial por pago al contado?
Vale un diamante o un corcho quemado?

Cuanto vale ese ni–o se–or Presidente?
Vale una vacante en Naciones Desunidas?
Vale la dura carta del Fondo?
Vale un bloqueo, una demanda, un pu–o
alzando su amenaza de cart—n pintado?

Y si as’ fuera amenaza de misil llegando,
vale ese ni–o la dignidad de su guiso?

Cu‡nto vale ese ni–o de la camiseta
rasgada de potrero y miseria?
Vale un contrato por doce goles anuales?
Vale lo que un cartel televisado?
Vale un pago por desarraigo
o una jubilaci—n de privilegio?

Cu‡nto vale ese ni–o de la esquina del banco?
Pronto, es urgente!
Que los carro–eros merodean
con una bolsa en la mano.

Copyright 2006 by Gabriel Impaglione.