El 18 de Julio fue tu cumpleaños,
y volvés a estar presente
aunque nunca dejaste de estarlo.
Because July 18th was your birthday,
and you are present again—
though you never really left.
Porque seguiste enseñándome,
Porque fuiste esa figura,
que me mostró lo que significa ser un artista,
y me conectaste no solo con el oficio
sino con mis raíces silenciosas,
con la memoria de mis propios ancestros,
con un lenguaje, con una historia.
Because you were that figure—
who showed me what it means to be an artist.
You connected me not only with the craft
that would define my future,
but with my silent roots,
with the memory of my own ancestors,
with a language, with a history.
En estos días tan difíciles, tan crueles,
hemos vuelto a hablar de vos.
In these difficult, cruel days,
we’ve been speaking of you again.
Y puedo escuchar tus carcajadas
cuando me entero de alguna anécdota comprometedora.
And I can hear your laughter
when I learn of some mischievous anecdote.
Y es tanta la gente que te quiere,
que —como leí en un artículo—
seguramente todos sentimos
que nuestro vínculo era especial.
So many people love you, that—as I once read in an article—
we all surely feel our bond with you was unique.
porque en cada etapa nueva de mi vida
y resignificando tu legado.
Because in every new stage of my life,
and reshaping the meaning of your legacy.
Hace poco, mi madre recordó
que la primera vez que viniste a mi casa,
fue cuando supiste de mi nacimiento
Not long ago, my mother remembered
the first time you came to my home—
it was to meet me, just after I was born.
La última, cuando ya eras mi maestra,
viniste a ver la obra que yo estaba pintando.
Era la última semana de diciembre de 2004.
The last time, when you were already my teacher,
you came to see the painting I was working on.
It was the last week of December, 2004.
Al año siguiente expuse por primera vez,
The following year I had my first exhibition,
and I dedicated that milestone to you.
con dudas y con ambigüedades.
Twenty years have passed and I carry on—
full of questions and ambiguities.
como parte de tu legado también.
But I’ve come to embrace ambiguity
as part of your legacy too.
Que su memoria sea bendita
May her memory be a blessing
