'Christmas Couplets (anticarol)' by Nicanor Parra
Coplas de Navidad (antivillancico)
‘Villancico’ used to be a folkish poetic and musical form common in the Iberian peninsula from the 15th to the 18th centuries, but nowadays merely refers to Christmas carols. In this ‘antivillancico’ which Parra published in 1983 during the military junta under Pinochet, he continues his traditional work of appropriating and subverting historical forms for the purposes of radicalising and popularising them.
Parra not only plays with form and style in this poem, but also with the traditional meanings and narratives associated with Christmas. 'Christmas Couplets’ is about the Nativity, but instead of the 3 Kings visiting, the holy family is visited by a throng of poor and working-class Chileans. Although some bear gifts like the kings, most of them come to enjoy the festivities or demand something from Mary. Those that do bring gifts are only able to provide meager items due to their poverty, such as a head of garlic. The poem is marked by anti-dictatorial discontent bubbling up in the requests of the visitors. Not all of the visitors are content to express their dissatisfaction in terms of the hardship they experience - they also express a desire for justice, liberty, and an end to repression.
Much of the poem is written - as is common in Parra’s anti-poems - using colloquial language. The dialects of southern Chile make an appearance, reflecting the rural character of many of the visitors. Because of this, various loanwords from Mapungdun - the language of the Mapuche, the largest indigenous ethnic group in Chile’s south - feature in the poem. As is particularly common in working-class or rural Chilean Spanish, the ‘d’ is elided: a visitor brings a ‘pescao’ (fish) instead of a ‘pescado’. Furthermore, Parra continues his use of ‘+’ for ‘mas’ (translated as more) and ‘x’ for ‘por’ (translated as by or for).
Saint Joseph looks at the Virgin the Virgin to Saint Joseph the kid looks at both and the 3 of them smile.- Come on Mrs. Mary thanks to your child God the light of the day has returned poetry has returned I give thanks to the heavens and to baby Jesus I ask bring back democracy down with aristocracy Gosh what a precious baby looks like a rosebud I’ll tell him the truth: country without liberty is a calamity oh when will that be when An end to disgraceful exile I’m asking from the heart and an end to repression And I Mrs. Mary who come from Antofagasta I beg of you to say enough is enough! All my nights are sleepless I ask for an end to this toothache in exchange for this favour I brought you a flower And I bring you a fish if you don’t open the door for me I’ll leav'em here – Who’s this impertinent?! My name is Floridor and I’ve come from Mortandad to celebrate with you all the Night of Fooltide Hello Mrs. May I come from Old Chillán And I brought baby Jesus A jug of aged wine And cuz I’m not stingy I also brought from Conchalí the same in chacolí The problem Miss Mary is that the pot’s empty and me I got you nothing no tunic nothing shiny been unemployed for a year While I look for work take this head-o-garlic Believe me I was bringing 3 beef empanadas I ate them on the way also I was bringing half a dozen figs I gave them to a beggar i’m a man of his word, ma’am, I was bringing you a clam it was snagged by a hag I swear I was bringing strips of shrimp thieves!! if they could they woulda had the stitches off my pants Alright Mrs. Mary! I come from Punta Arenas and for child Jesus I bring waves from the Gulf of pities we’re up to our necks! And I who come from the north am bringing good news we will bear it no + the people demand justice at this rate we will have to change the world or so the dying say in this beautiful country the light of the day has died poetry has died now or never Mrs. this thing has no name the man’s gotta change and me being who I am lion between lions since I have nothing else I leave him my trousers there’s nothing to be afraid of Missus follow your hearts And I who come by foot hailing from Argentina to your little boy I bring the Falklands War I’ve never seen a + delicious baby he looks like a butterfly flying from rose to rose long live God long live the Virgin long live France’s Fathers long live the Roman Church with all its parishes to the health of your offspring! Don't entrust it to nobody care for your little boy God and for his tummyaches remember there’s no remedy better than the Arrurrupata before I forget my grandma says to say that if you don’t vaccinate the boy he can get smallpox be careful with paint “ “ “ censorship “ “ “ torture they’ll crucify him! you’re looking very swell childbirth has done you well in the opinion of a farmer born and raised in Tunca our Lady looks + pretty than ever go go who will drink that mate? Mister Pepe’s getting on don’t think he could do it a question for your ear: if you end up a widow would you marry me? I said it once I’ll say it twice the very best eggbog a fool never despises the truth + than the doubtful I trust that Mr. Joe wont get jealous with us Greetings for his wife FAREWELL Don’t try us any + lady of my soul and tell us when the HELL the Amnesty law will be passed don’t you dare laugh at me there’s lots of the best bread: with cheese but no brains word I do not understand and Mrs. Mary that’s even though I come from Putaendo all I ask on this great occasion is what we all ask: the triumph of reason Upsydaisy little boy God little donkey of the horizon you will not let the mountain be burnt on its own wood Ea Holy Mother Ea no + may anyone be persecuted for their ideas.
San José mira a la Virgen
la Virgen a San José
el niño mira a los 2
y se sonríen los 3.-
Ea Sra. María
gracias a su niño Dios
ha vuelto la luz del día
ha vuelto la poesía
al cielo le doy las gracias
y al niño Jesús le pido
que vuelva la democracia
abajo la aristocracia
Pucha la guagua preciosa
parece botón de rosa
yo le diré la verdad:
la patria sin libertad
es una calamidad
ay cuándo será ese cuándo
fin al exilio oprobioso
le pido de corazón
y fin a la república
y yo Sra María
que vengo de Antofagasta
le ruego que diga basta!
la noche la paso en vela
pido que se ponga fin
a este dolor de muela
a cambio deste favor
aquí le traigo una flor
y yo le traigo un pescao
si no me abre la puerta
aquí lo dejo botao
quién es ese impertinente!
yo me llamo Floridor
y vengo de Mortandad
a celebrar con Ud.
la noche de Vanidad
Hola Sra. Maruja
yo vengo de Chillán viejo
y al niño Jesús le traigo
un chuico de vino añejo
y yo para no ser menos
le traigo de conchalí
su idem de chacolí
Lo malo Doña María
questá la olla vacía
y yo no le traigo nada
ni túnica ni brillantes
un año questoy cesante
mientras encuentro trabajo
tome esta cabeja diajo
créame que le traía
3 empanadas de pino
me las comí en el camino
también le traía yo
media docena de higos
se los dí a un pobre mendigo
palabra de hombre Sra.
que le traía una almeja
me la arrebató una vieja
le juro que le traía
2 tiras de camarones
ladrones!!
x poco no me chorean
la tira de los calzones
Ojo Sra. María!
yo vengo de Punta Arenas
y al niño Jesús le traigo
olas del Golfo de Penas
estamos hasta la tuza!
y yo que vengo del norte
le traigo buenas noticias
ya no se soporta +
el pueblo pide justicia
a este paso que vamos
habrá que cambiar el mundo
comentan los moribundos
en este hermoso país
ha muerto la luz del día
ha muerto la poesía
ahora o nunca Señora
la cosa no tiene nombre
debemos cambiar al hombre
y yo que soy lo que soy
león entre los leones
como no tengo otra cosa
le dejo mis pantalones
quién dijo miedo Señora
arriba los corazones
y yo que vengo de a pie
rumbiando de la Argentina
a su niñito le traigo
la Guerra de las Malvinas
que guagua + deliciosa
parece una mariposa
vaando de rosa en rosa
viva Dios
viva la Virgen
vivan los Padres Franceses
viva la Iglesia Romana
con todos sus feligreses
a la salud de su crío!
no se lo confíe a nadie
cuide su niñito Dios
y para el dolor de guata
recuerde que no hay remedio
mejor que el Arrurrupata
antes que se me le olvide
le manda a decir mi agüela
que si no vacuna al niño
le puede dar la virgüela
cuidado con la pintura
” ” ” censura
” ” ” tortura
¡ lo van a crucificar!
a Ud. la veo muy bién
el parto le ha hecho bien
en opinión de un labriego
nacido y criado en Tunca
nuestra Señora se ve
+ buenamoza que nunca
vate vate
¿quién se tomará ese mate?
Don Pepe tiene sus años
no creo que se la pueda
una pregunta al oído:
si ud llegara a enviudar
se casaría conmigo?
repito y vuelvo a decir
cogollo de cola de oso
un necio no + desprecia
lo cierto x lo dudoso
confío que Don José
no se nos pondrá celoso
saludos para su esposa
DESPEDIDA
Ya no nos tramite +
señora del alma mía
y díganos cuando CRESTA
sale la ley de Amnistía
de mí no se ríe nadie
cogollo de pan con queso:
hay tanto pero no ceso
palabra que no comprendo
y eso Sra. María
que vengo de Putaendo
lo único que le pido
en esta gran ocasión
es lo que pedimos todos:
el triunfo de la razón
Aúpa niñito Dios
burrito del horizonte
no dejarás que se queme
en su propia leña el monte
Ea
Madre Santa
Ea
que no se persiga +
a nadie x sus ideas.