My Tribe by Alberto Blanco

MY TRIBE

(English translation: James Nolan)

Earth is the same
sky another.
Sky is the same
earth another.

From lake to lake,
Forest to forest”
Which tribe is mine?
--I ask myself—
Where’s my place?

Perhaps I belong to the tribe
Of those who have none;
Or to the black sheep tribe;
Or to a tribe whose ancestors
come from the future:
A tribe on the horizon.

But if I have to belong to some
tribe
--I tell myself—
Make it a large tribe,
Make it a strong tribe,
One in which nobody
Is left out,
In which everybody,
For once and for all
Has a God-given place.

I’m not talking about a human
tribe.
I’m not talking about a planetary
tribe.
I’m not even talking about a
universal one.

I’m talking about a tribe you can’t
talk about.
A tribe that’s always been
But whose existence must yet be
proven.

A tribe that’s always been
But whose existence
We can prove right now.