(Poem 14 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

“Oh, there’s no need to cry because life is a carnival, and it’s more beautiful to live singing.” -Celia Cruz “Life is a Carnival”

“Ay, no hay que llorar que la vida es un carnaval, y es más bello vivir cantando.” -Celia Cruz “La Vida Es Un Carnaval”

“Ay, no hay que llorar…”
Tears don’t heal a scar.
Instead, accept la paz
granted only by loss
to those hit by the rule
“Que la vida es cruel.”

You see, it’s a lie,
this compunction to cry,
for it says we’re alone,
pero “nunca estará solo.”
Dios está contigo.
God is where we go.

And when we hate
or raise complaint,
sin, pollute, make war,
“Ay, no hay que llorar…”
Rather, sing one and all
“que la vida es un carnaval.”

(@ Home Studio after watching the Spanish musical La Usurpadora: The Musical with Celinda and Debbie, which featured Celia Cruz’s song as the opening number. I have many happy Salsa memories dancing to this song – 14th poem of the year.)

Translation Spanish to English (It will not rhyme in the translation):

“Oh, there’s no need to cry…”
Tears don’t heal a scar.
Instead, accept the peace
granted only by loss
to those hit by the rule
“that life is cruel.”

You see, it’s a lie,
this compunction to cry,
for it says we’re alone,
but “we are never alone.”
God is with us.
God is where we go.

And when we hate
or raise complaint,
sin, pollute, make war,
“Oh, there’s no need to cry…”
Rather, sing one and all
“because life is a carnival.”

Cruz, Celia; Daniel, Victor, “La Vida Es Un Carnaval,” Mi Vida Es
  Cantar, 1998.
La Usurpadora: The Musical, Limón; Santiago, Hiojos, María. Walden
  Entertainment, Inc., 2023.