The Fable of the Mermaid and the Drunks NERUDA

The Fable of the Mermaid and the Drunks

All these gentlemen were inside
when she got completely naked
they had been drinking and began to spit on it
she knew nothing had just come out of the river
was a mermaid who had lost
insults ran over her smooth flesh
filth covered their breasts gold
she did not cry so do not cry
did not know why not dress dressed
tattooed her with burnt corks and cigarettes
and laughed until they fall to the floor of the tavern
she did not speak because I did not speak
his eyes were the color of distant love
his arms constructed of twin topazes
his lips were cut in light coral
and suddenly walked out that door
barely entered the river was clean
shone like a white stone in the rain
and swam without looking back again
never swam until he died.