25 de octubre de 2013

Rosas rojas

Dos hombres pelean por el último ramo de rosas rojas. Hay docenas de otras flores alrededor, como puedes ver, ya que cada quien está llevando ramos de diferentes colores y sabores. Pero como bien has notado, estos dos hombres en particular parecen de la vieja escuela, y ninguno de ellos aceptará llevarle a su amada nada menos que el ramo de rosas más pomposo y cliché que pueda ser comprado. El florista ya ha amenazado con llamar a la policía pero ninguno de los hombres ha podido lograr que el otro suelte el ramo de rosas. Ahora incluso tienen público alrededor.


Uno de los dos hombres, llamémoslo el hombre zurdo porque lo vemos usando su mano izquierda para sostener el ramo, lleva un rato lanzando miradas nerviosas a su reloj. Esto no pasa desapercibido por el otro hombre, quien por cierto, como se espera de la mayoría de las personas, estaba sosteniendo el ramo con su mano derecha. Él sabe que es cuestión de tiempo para que su enemigo se rinda y suelte las flores.


Una gota de sudor empieza a recorrer la frente del hombre zurdo, se le está haciendo tarde. Su mano empieza a temblar nerviosamente. Da un largo suspiro y deja ir las flores, aceptando su derrota. El público que se ha formado alrededor de ellos aplaude, finalmente tienen un ganador, ahora son libres para dedicarse a sus propios asuntos. El hombre que no es el hombre zurdo grita en señal de victoria. Una vez más ha comprobado que siempre obtiene lo que quiere.


Por otra parte, el primer hombre, el zurdo, entra en pánico. Ha esperado demasiado. La florería está a punto de cerrar y aún no tiene un ramo de flores. El florista se acerca con un ramo de lirios púrpuras en la mano y le dice, muy apenado, que es el último ramo que queda el día de hoy, si lo quiere. Se escucha la risa burlona del hombre que no es el hombre zurdo mientras sale a la calle.


No importa, decide finalmente el hombre zurdo, flores son flores. Paga con el único billete que lleva en su cartera y sale corriendo de la tienda, sólo le quedan algunos minutos. Lo vemos llegar casi sin aliento a casa de su amada, la abraza y la besa mientras le entrega las flores. Feliz cumpleaños, le susurra en la oreja. Ella sonríe.


Casi al mismo tiempo, con menos prisas y todavía con la sonrisa de triunfo en la cara, el hombre que no es el hombre zurdo llega a casa. Feliz cumpleaños, le dice a su esposa, levantando en el aire su trofeo de rosas rojas.


Ella se da la vuelta sosteniendo un ramo de lirios púrpuras.


*** Versión Inglés ***


Red Roses.
Two men are in a fight over the last bouquet of red roses. Clearly, there are dozens of other flowers around, as each person is carrying flowers of different sizes and varieties. But you notice, these two men in particular are from the old school, and neither would take his beloved anything less than the most outrageous and trite bouquet of red roses that were for sale.
The florist has threatened to call the police and yet no man has been able to get the other to release the bouquet. By this time they have observers, as many people as one can fit into a medium flower shop in a medium sized city.
One man, let's call him the left-handed man because he was using his left hand to hold the bouquet, has for a while been casting nervous glances at his watch. This does not go unnoticed by the other man, who by the way, as would be expected, was holding the bouquet with his right hand. He knows it's a matter of time before the enemy surrenders and lets go of the red roses.
A drop of sweat starts to run down the forehead of the left-handed man. It's getting very late. His hand begins to shake nervously. He then sighs and releases the flowers, accepting his defeat. The crowd around them applauds; finally a winner. Now they are free to pursue their own affairs. The man who is not the left-handed man, lets out a cry of victory. Once again it has been proven that he always gets what he wants.
The first man, the left-handed one, is now panicking. He waited too long. The flower shop is about to close and now he must buy the first bouquet he can find. He approaches the counter. The florist has in his hands a bouquet of purple lilies, and a face of shame, as he tells him that this is the last bouquet remaining today. You can hear the mocking laughter of the man who is not the left-handed man as he takes to the street.
It does not matter, decides the left-handed man finally. Flowers are flowers. He pays with the sole bill that he carries and runs out of the store. He has only a couple of minutes. Almost breathless, he comes home to his beloved, hugs her and kisses her passionately while delivering the flowers. Happy Birthday, he whispers in her ear. She smiles.
About the same time, less quickly and with a smile of triumph on his face yet, the man who is not the left-handed man arrives home.
Happy Birthday, he tells his wife while lifting the red roses trophy.

She turns around holding a bouquet of purple lilies.


17 de octubre de 2013

test versión inglés/ Desolation



Even though it was an uninhabited planet, it offered, at first glance, a look that evoked the life and longing of better times. The astronauts got off the ship, cautious - thousands of miles around, and nothing but ruins could be seen. They had descended upon an ancient city, once inhabited by legendary creatures that became extinct long ago.

The three travelers ventured out to explore. Covered with great costumes and masks to protect them from the polluted atmosphere, they toured the mazes of huge ancient landmarks, examining some fascinating and rare writing symbols. Here and there they encountered the remains of what looked like a piece of clothing. Others were very similar to kitchen vessels or perhaps hunting tools. They found fragments of what might have been ships for transportation, evidence of the technological progress those creatures had managed to achieve.

The traces of that wonderful civilization touched the hearts of the travelers. Everywhere there were signs of a painful process of defeasance, plagued by war and disease, but no one wanted to admit that after countless searches the only other planet that ever harbored life was desolate. The three bowed down and prayed, begged their god to give them comfort and strength to resume their search, and asked for wisdom so their decisions would keep them away from the same terrible fate. They promised to return one day and make sure that that race would be remembered.


When boarding their ship the captain took one last look at the ruins and let a tear slip down his greenish cheek, in honor of what once had been known as planet Earth.