top of page
Un Día Sin Indocumentados
OFELIA GUILLEN
english translation by the Author and Ray Páramo
El día primero de Mayo, ya fecha muy señalada
frente a mi televisor yo me quedaba asombrada
a ver la gran multitud que paso firme marchaba
todos vestidos de blanco, es el símbolo de paz
hombres, mujeres y niños unidos por el amor
todos pidiendo justicia derecho al trabajador
Un día sin indocumentados, no fueron a trabajar
las calles estaban llenas y los negocios cerrados
que siga la paz, que siga la unión
Espero que escuchen los gritos de angustia del trabajador
pues la unión es la fuerza que mueve a la gente
que grita, que canta, que baila, que llora, que siente
Antonio Villaraigosa vino, saludo a su gente
había en su garganta una gran emoción
cuando dijo - Gracias, muchísimas gracias
me siento orgulloso de ser su mayor
Un poco después, en una entrevista dijo -
yo también soy hijo de un inmigrante que vino de León
es muy importante que no sete olvide cual son tus raíces
porque si lo haces
estarás negando aquella mujer que te vio nacer
Ante ti, Piolín me quito el sombrero
pues con tus colegas tuvieron valor
este día de Mayo despertar al León que estaba dormido,
más hoy los ruidos se escuchan en todos los pueblos
de nuestra nación
¡Yo nunca me olvido que soy Mexicana!
Porque aquí en mi mente
siempre está presente
la niña escondida
que sufrió injusticias y que vio redadas
pero por orgullo o quizás por miedo
nunca dijo nada
The first day of May, a date of great importance
in front of my television, I was amazed
to see a great crowd marching steadily
all dressed in white, a symbol of peace
men, women and children united by love
all asking for justice, for workers’ rights
A day without the undocumented, they did not work,
they filled the streets, they closed their businesses
with hope that peace would continue, to be united
I hope you hear the workers’ cries of anguish,
after all, union is the force that moves people
that screams, that sings, that dances, that cries, that feels
Antonio Villaraigosa arrived, greeting his people
there was great emotion in his voice
when he said - Thank you, thank you so much
I am proud to be your mayor
Later, in an interview he said -
I too am the son of an immigrant who came from León
it is very important that you do not forget your roots
because if you do
you will deny the woman who saw you born
Before you, Piolin, I remove my hat
alongside our colleagues who had the courage,
on this day of May, to awaken the lion who was asleep,
today, its roars are heard in all the cities
of our nation
I never forget that I am Mexican!
Because here in my mind
always present is
a little girl hiding away
who suffered injustices and who saw raids
but out of pride or perhaps out of fear
never said anything
OFELIA GUILLEN is a Mexican-American poet originally from Guanajuato, México. Her poems explore her spirituality, her love of nature, and her personal experiences as an immigrant into the United States. Presently, she resides in Orange County, CA, local to her family and friends. In her free time, when she is not writing, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and spending time with her loved ones.
Ofelia's poem is featured in Entre Magazine (Volume 1) published in May 2024.
bottom of page