SILUETA PORTEÑA (PORTEÑA SILHOUETTE)

Music by los Hermanos Cucaro
Lyrics by Orlan Daniel and Ernesto Noli
Translated by Coby Lubliner

Cuando tú pasas caminando por las tardes repiqueteando yu taquito en la vereda marcas compases de cadencias melodiosas de una milonga juguetona y callejera. Y en tus vaivenes pareciera la bailaras, así te miren y te miren los que quieran porque tú llevas en tu cuerpo la arrogancia y el majestuoso ondular de las porteñas. Tardecita criolla, de limpido cielo bordado de nubes, llevas en tu pelo. Vinchita argentina que es todo tu orgullo. Y cuanto sol tienen esos ojos tuyos. Y los piropos que te dicen los muchachos como florcitas que a tu paso te ofrecieran Que las recoges y que enriedas en tu pelo junto a la vincha con que adornas tu cabeza. Dice tu cuerpo, tu arrogancia y tu cadencia y tus taquitos provocando en la vereda: “Soy el espíritu criollo hecho silueta” y te coronan la más guapa y más porteña.

When you go walking on a Buenos Aires evening, And on the sidewalk your stiletto heels are tapping, It’s like the sound of a melodious milonga, And in the street you mark the beat as if you’re clapping. And as you walk it seems you’re dancing to its rhythm And you don’t care if there are men around you staring, For in your body there’s the pride of the Porteña, And the Porteña’s noble swaying in your bearing. Buenos Aires evening, sky that’s barely clouded... In your hair you’re wearing, where your curls are crowded, Argentine vinchita, proudest of possessions. Oh, there’s so much sunshine in your eyes’ expression! And all the compliments that all the boys throw at you Are just like flowers that they give you as you tarry. You pick them up and in your hair they find their places, Next to the vincha that your head so proudly carries. For this is what your body and your pride are saying With your provocative stiletto beat around you: “I am the silhouette of the Criollo spirit,&rqquo; And the most beautiful Porteña they’ll have crowned you.

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