The Silent Child

The boy was looking for his voice

(The king of crickets had stolen it)

 

deep inside a water drop

the boy was looking for his voice

 

I don’t want it for talking

I want it to make a ring

that my reticence can wear

around its little finger

 

Deep inside a water drop

the boy was looking for his voice

 

(Meanwhile in the distance

the voice was dressed up like a cricket)

Translated by Peter Jukes from El Niño Muda by Lorca