Adán García [English translation]

The last day in Adan Garcia’s life

found him like others of his past

dreaming about winning the “Big One“ on the lottery

with his wife and kids sleeping on his side

Adán left his house at noon

after a heated discussion:

his wife wanted to ask her in-laws for money

but Adán kissed his children while he screamed:

“This is over, life

Ilusion is gone, woman

and time is my enemy.

And instead of living in fear,

I’d rather die smiling,

While memories are still alive."

He went to the neighborhood store for the last time

where he got a pack of cigarettes on credit,

They saw him walking aimlessly on Central Avenue

his hands inside his pockets.

A neighbor said: “ since Adán was fired from his job,

I noticed a strange change in his behavior.

He was always so lively, and now he was still,

it was the quietness of desperation.”

The police docket said that Adan went to the bank

and yelled at the cashier to hand him

all the money she had in the cash register

and if she didn’t do it fast enough, he would kill her.

“ The man threatened me with a gun” said the lady.

“so I gave him whatever he asked for.”

“For the kind of salary I make here,

I’m not going to risk the life God gave me”.

They say that went Adan rushed out of the bank

he ran into a patrol car parked in front,

that he didn’t pay attention to the policeman when he yelled “Stop!”,

and that he was “screaming and laughing like a maniac”.

The next day, the newspapers showed the picture

of his dead body in his underwear.

Adán’s widow read on the front page:

THIEF USED HIS SON ‘S WATER PISTOL

“This is over, life

Ilusion is gone, woman

and time is my enemy.

And instead of living in fear,

I’d rather die smiling."

While memories are still alive.

• Artist:Rubén Blades
• Album:Amor y Control