ANG MGA NAGHAHANAP NG TRABAHO
tula ni Jan Oskar Hansen
salin ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
(15 pantig bawat taludtod)
Matapos ang matagal na kawalan ng trabaho
napasok akong tagaluto sa isang kapihan
kung saan tao'y nagdatingan para sa serbesa
ngunit atas ng lokal na batas, kumain muna
ang sinuman bago tumagay. Monay o may kesong
tinapay ang karaniwan, na pag di na nakain
ay nililipat ng pinggan upang muling ihain,
ngunit dapat kong buksan, ilalim ng keso'y tingnan
nang tiyaking walang nilagay doong anupaman
tulad ng upos ng yosi't iba pa. Aking batid
ang galawan pagkat dating mananagay hanggang sa
mawalan ng trabaho nang lagyan ng saklob yaong
lata ng sardinas at alumahan. Ayos lamang
maging uring manggagawa pag panaho'y maganda,
ngunit sa malao't madali'y may kapanganiban
at pag walang aral, tiyak sa karukhaan sadlak.
JOB SEEKERS
A poem by Jan Oskar Hansen
After being unemployed for a long time I got
a job as a cook in a cafe where people came
for the beer, but the local law demanded
drinkers had to order something to eat before
drinking. Usually, it was a burger or a cheese
sandwich. If a sandwich came back uneaten
it was moved to another plate and served again,
but I had to open look under the cheese to be
sure no one had put something there, like
the butt of cigarette and so on. I knew the game
having been a drinker there until I lost my job
of putting a lid on tins of sardines and mackerel.
To be working class when time is good is Ok, but
but sooner or later there will be a downturn
and without proper education poverty beckons.
