top of page
Textura de mármore
Writer's pictureiamfromsouthamerica

Born a Man - Adelia Zamudio

Updated: Dec 3, 2023

The poem Nacer hombre by the Bolivian poet Adelia Zamudio.



Nacer Hombre

Born a Man

Cuánto trabajo ella pasa

por corregir la torpezade su esposo, y en la casa,

(permitidme que me asombre)

tan inepto como fatuo

sigue él siendo la cabeza,

porque es hombre.


Si alguna versos escribe

-“De alguno esos versos son

que ella sólo los suscribe”;

(permitidme que me asombre)

Si ese alguno no es poeta

¿por qué tal suposición?

-Porque es hombre.


Una mujer superior

en elecciones no vota,

y vota el pillo peor;

(permitidme que me asombre)

con sólo saber firmar

puede votar un idiota,

porque es hombre.


Él se abate y bebe o juega

en un revés de la suerte;

ella sufre, lucha y ruega;

(permitidme que me asombre).

Ella se llama “ser débil”,

y él se apellida “ser fuerte”

porque es hombre.


Ella debe perdonar

si su esposo le es infiel;

mas, él se puede vengar;

(permitidme que me asombre)

en un caso semejante

hasta puede matar él,

porque es hombre.


¡Oh, mortal!

¡Oh mortal privilegiado,

que de perfecto y cabal

gozas seguro renombre!

para ello ¿qué te ha bastado?

Nacer hombre.

How much work she goes through

to correct her husband's 

clumsiness, and in the house,

(allow me to be amazed)

as inept as he is foolish, 

he continues to be the head, 

because he is a man.


If she writes any verses

-“Those verses are from someone else

she only copy them”; 

(allow me to be amazed)

If that someone is not a poet,

why such an assumption?

-Because he is a man.


A superior woman

in elections does not vote,

and the worst scoundrel votes; 

(allow me to be amazed)

just by knowing how to sign,

an idiot can vote,

because he is a man.


He mopes and drinks or gambles

in a reversal of fortune;

she suffers, fights, and prays;

(allow me to be amazed).

Her name is “Being Weak”,

and his last name is “Being Strong”

because he is a man.


She must forgive 

if her husband is unfaithful; 

but, he can take revenge;

(allow me to be amazed)

in such a case he can even kill,

because he is a man.


Oh mortal! 

Oh privileged mortal,

who is perfect and complete

surely you enjoy being renowned! 

What did you do to achieve this? 

You was born a man.

Note: The English version available in this post is a loose translation from the original text.

 
Adelia Zamudio, Bolivian writer, South American poets, Female latin american poet
About The Poet

Adela Zamudio (1854–1928) is a Bolivian writer and poet who pioneered feminism in this country. Born in Cochabamba, she was self-taught and wrote several texts, poems, and a novel "Íntimas". National Bolivian Women's Day is celebrated on her birthday as a tribute.

Comments


Commenting has been turned off.
bottom of page