WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.670 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.670 --> 00:00:06.170 align:middle line:84% "Primera fotografía de mi padre, mis hermanos y yo con migrantes 00:00:06.170 --> 00:00:08.060 align:middle line:90% de Centroamérica." 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:12.860 align:middle line:84% "Mi padre es el hombre de la extrema izquierda arriba. 00:00:12.860 --> 00:00:16.640 align:middle line:84% Se asoma entre el sombrero de Nicolás, hondureño, 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:18.920 align:middle line:90% y mi hermana Cisteil. 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:21.500 align:middle line:90% Nicolás era afable, trabajador. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:25.640 align:middle line:84% El filo de su sonrisa partía la dureza o los modos fieros de 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:26.870 align:middle line:90% cualquiera. 00:00:26.870 --> 00:00:31.970 align:middle line:84% Arriba también, cargando a mi hermana Exa, justo en el medio, 00:00:31.970 --> 00:00:34.340 align:middle line:90% Orlando, hondureño. 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:38.960 align:middle line:84% Evangélico, tranquilo, con esa paz de las reses que van al 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:40.070 align:middle line:90% matadero. 00:00:40.070 --> 00:00:43.280 align:middle line:84% Se quedó en casa mayor tiempo que los demás. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:46.610 align:middle line:84% Del lado derecho, Carlos, hondureño. 00:00:46.610 --> 00:00:50.150 align:middle line:84% De su cabeza nace aquel torcido árbol de nance, 00:00:50.150 --> 00:00:53.960 align:middle line:84% y su codo toca la exacta mitad de la calle central, 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:58.640 align:middle line:84% por la que bajaba mi padre, ebrio de risa cuando llegaba por 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:03.320 align:middle line:84% las noches, luego de conversar con los muchachos en el parque. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:07.070 align:middle line:84% Tenía la voz y las maneras de un hombre negro teñido de piel 00:01:07.070 --> 00:01:08.060 align:middle line:90% mestiza. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:12.020 align:middle line:84% Era sin duda el más alegre de los migrantes y favorito de mi 00:01:12.020 --> 00:01:13.730 align:middle line:90% hermano Canek. 00:01:13.730 --> 00:01:15.830 align:middle line:90% Es el niño más sonriente. 00:01:15.830 --> 00:01:19.670 align:middle line:84% Aún hoy conserva el hacha limpia de su boca, 00:01:19.670 --> 00:01:22.250 align:middle line:84% a quien cargaba siempre que podía. 00:01:22.250 --> 00:01:25.700 align:middle line:84% Entre Orlando y el brazo derecho de Carlos, 00:01:25.700 --> 00:01:29.690 align:middle line:84% que se recarga en su hombro izquierdo y le hace cuernos, 00:01:29.690 --> 00:01:31.580 align:middle line:90% un tercer hondureño. 00:01:31.580 --> 00:01:35.210 align:middle line:84% Dejé su nombre entre los signos de aquel año y dudo que mis 00:01:35.210 --> 00:01:36.740 align:middle line:90% hermanos lo recuerden. 00:01:36.740 --> 00:01:38.930 align:middle line:90% Era callado como una sombra. 00:01:38.930 --> 00:01:41.930 align:middle line:84% Quizá por ello se nos huyó su nombre. 00:01:41.930 --> 00:01:46.250 align:middle line:84% Delante de él, mi hermano Aldo saluda con la rama de su mano 00:01:46.250 --> 00:01:50.780 align:middle line:84% extendida en gesto amable a mi madre. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:55.040 align:middle line:90% Ella tomó la foto. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:58.320 align:middle line:84% Abajo y en cuclillas, casi en el medio, 00:01:58.320 --> 00:02:02.940 align:middle line:84% a los pies del difuso manojo de caras, dos guatemaltecos. 00:02:02.940 --> 00:02:05.970 align:middle line:84% Las letras de su nombre son pájaros de olvido. 00:02:05.970 --> 00:02:09.270 align:middle line:84% Llegaron después que Nicolás, Carlos y Orlando, 00:02:09.270 --> 00:02:12.000 align:middle line:84% pero marcharon juntos, excepto el último, 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.630 align:middle line:84% que subió al tren un mes después. 00:02:15.630 --> 00:02:19.020 align:middle line:84% Mi padre le regaló un viejo sombrero y un bolso. 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:22.590 align:middle line:84% Y antes de partir al norte, lo adiestró para emular a 00:02:22.590 --> 00:02:24.930 align:middle line:90% un campesino costeño. 00:02:24.930 --> 00:02:29.640 align:middle line:84% Libró todas las casetas migratorias, coyotes y polleros. 00:02:29.640 --> 00:02:33.750 align:middle line:84% Luego de varios meses, sorteando kilómetros de odio, 00:02:33.750 --> 00:02:36.240 align:middle line:84% nos escribió una carta desde Canadá, 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.470 align:middle line:84% a donde llegó para escribir su futuro en páginas de invierno. 00:02:40.470 --> 00:02:44.970 align:middle line:84% Yo aparezco en cuclillas en el extremo izquierdo de la foto. 00:02:44.970 --> 00:02:49.350 align:middle line:84% Desde entonces llevaba la manía del tic que todavía conservo, 00:02:49.350 --> 00:02:53.640 align:middle line:84% sujetarme el índice de la mano derecha haciendo una pinza con 00:02:53.640 --> 00:02:54.630 align:middle line:90% la zurda. 00:02:54.630 --> 00:02:58.170 align:middle line:84% Voy descalzo, al igual que mis hermanos. 00:02:58.170 --> 00:03:01.260 align:middle line:84% Ninguno de nosotros vive ya en el pueblo. 00:03:01.260 --> 00:03:05.670 align:middle line:84% Todos migramos, buscando librarnos de las garras del dios 00:03:05.670 --> 00:03:09.360 align:middle line:90% de la miseria y su violencia. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:15.540 align:middle line:84% Si pudiéramos entrar en la foto 40 años atrás y dar vuelta sobre 00:03:15.540 --> 00:03:19.500 align:middle line:84% la calle a mano derecha, encontraríamos a mi padre en 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:20.550 align:middle line:90% el andén. 00:03:20.550 --> 00:03:22.950 align:middle line:90% Sería imposible confundirlo. 00:03:22.950 --> 00:03:26.910 align:middle line:84% Niño colocho, descalzo y curtido por el sol, 00:03:26.910 --> 00:03:30.750 align:middle line:84% vendiendo palomitas de maíz, cargando las maletas de 00:03:30.750 --> 00:03:35.490 align:middle line:84% los agentes viajeros, saltando las manchas de diesel quemado 00:03:35.490 --> 00:03:40.530 align:middle line:84% sobre los durmientes de madera, asido a un vagón en dirección a 00:03:40.530 --> 00:03:45.720 align:middle line:84% la memoria, ese débil murmullo que se rompe con el aullido de 00:03:45.720 --> 00:03:52.280 align:middle line:84% un tren que atraviesa por el país de la niebla." 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:55.640 align:middle line:90% [APLAUSOS] 00:03:55.640 --> 00:03:57.560 align:middle line:90% 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:00.950 align:middle line:84% "First photograph of my father, my brothers and sisters, 00:04:00.950 --> 00:04:04.790 align:middle line:84% and me with migrants from Central America." 00:04:04.790 --> 00:04:07.730 align:middle line:84% "My father is the man on the left at the top. 00:04:07.730 --> 00:04:11.750 align:middle line:84% He peeks out between the sombrero of Nicolás, a Honduran, 00:04:11.750 --> 00:04:13.940 align:middle line:90% and my sister Cisteil. 00:04:13.940 --> 00:04:17.029 align:middle line:84% Nicolás was a good-natured, hardworking man with a 00:04:17.029 --> 00:04:20.720 align:middle line:84% sharp-edged smile that could crack anyone open, 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:23.180 align:middle line:90% no matter how rough or tough. 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:28.190 align:middle line:84% At the top, too, right in the middle, holding my sister Exa, 00:04:28.190 --> 00:04:33.650 align:middle line:84% is another Honduran, Orlando, an evangelical with the peace and 00:04:33.650 --> 00:04:37.190 align:middle line:84% calm of cattle on the way to slaughter. 00:04:37.190 --> 00:04:39.800 align:middle line:84% He stayed in our house longer than the rest. 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:43.250 align:middle line:84% On the right-hand side, Carlos, Honduran too. 00:04:43.250 --> 00:04:46.640 align:middle line:84% From his head seems to grow the twisted nance tree, 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:51.500 align:middle line:84% whose elbow touches the exact center of the calle central, 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:55.750 align:middle line:84% the street my father would come down at night, towards home, 00:04:55.750 --> 00:04:59.920 align:middle line:84% drunk on laughter from talking with his friends in the park. 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:02.740 align:middle line:84% A mild-managed, soft-voiced, light-skinned Black man, 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:06.850 align:middle line:84% Carlos was no doubt the most cheerful of the migrants, 00:05:06.850 --> 00:05:10.900 align:middle line:84% my brother Canek's favorite, carrying the boy around whenever 00:05:10.900 --> 00:05:11.920 align:middle line:90% he could. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:14.320 align:middle line:84% Canek's the kid with the biggest smile, 00:05:14.320 --> 00:05:18.520 align:middle line:84% a wide mouth smile he's kept to this day. 00:05:18.520 --> 00:05:21.850 align:middle line:84% Between Orlando and Carlos's right arm, 00:05:21.850 --> 00:05:25.720 align:middle line:84% which rests on the man's left shoulder and gives him horns, 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:30.100 align:middle line:84% a fourth Honduran, whose name I've lost among the hallmarks of 00:05:30.100 --> 00:05:34.030 align:middle line:84% that year, and I doubt that my brothers and sisters remember 00:05:34.030 --> 00:05:39.040 align:middle line:84% it, maybe because he went around quiet as a shadow. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:42.460 align:middle line:84% In front of him, my brother Aldo gives a friendly wave to my 00:05:42.460 --> 00:05:44.710 align:middle line:90% mother, taking the photo. 00:05:44.710 --> 00:05:47.260 align:middle line:84% At the bottom, crouched down almost in the middle, 00:05:47.260 --> 00:05:52.080 align:middle line:84% below this hazy handful of faces, two Guatemalans, 00:05:52.080 --> 00:05:57.540 align:middle line:84% the letters of whose names are like birds of forgetfulness now. 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:00.900 align:middle line:84% They came later than Nicolás, Carlos, or Orlando, 00:06:00.900 --> 00:06:03.960 align:middle line:84% but they all left together, all but Orlando, 00:06:03.960 --> 00:06:06.360 align:middle line:84% who hopped the train a month later, 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:09.780 align:middle line:84% my father giving him an old sombrero and backpack, 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:14.370 align:middle line:84% and teaching him for the journey north how to pass as a campesino 00:06:14.370 --> 00:06:16.320 align:middle line:90% from the coast. 00:06:16.320 --> 00:06:18.900 align:middle line:84% He made it past all the checkpoints, the coyotes, 00:06:18.900 --> 00:06:20.130 align:middle line:90% and smugglers. 00:06:20.130 --> 00:06:24.420 align:middle line:84% And a few months later, having weathered thousands of miles of 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:27.570 align:middle line:84% hate, he wrote us a letter from Canada, 00:06:27.570 --> 00:06:32.400 align:middle line:84% where he'd arrived to write himself a future on pages of 00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:34.530 align:middle line:90% snow. 00:06:34.530 --> 00:06:37.920 align:middle line:84% I appear crouched down at the far left of the photo, 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.280 align:middle line:84% displaying a nervous tic I've still got, 00:06:41.280 --> 00:06:45.780 align:middle line:84% making a pincer with my right index finger against my left and 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:48.180 align:middle line:90% barefoot like my brothers. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:50.190 align:middle line:84% None of us live in that town anymore. 00:06:50.190 --> 00:06:54.510 align:middle line:84% We all became migrants, trying to shake ourselves loose from 00:06:54.510 --> 00:06:59.430 align:middle line:84% the claws of that violent god of poverty. 00:06:59.430 --> 00:07:04.170 align:middle line:84% If we could step into the photo after 30 years and walk back up 00:07:04.170 --> 00:07:06.810 align:middle line:84% that street on the right-hand side, 00:07:06.810 --> 00:07:10.770 align:middle line:84% we'd come upon my father on the railway platform. 00:07:10.770 --> 00:07:15.320 align:middle line:84% There'd be no mistaking him, a curly-haired barefoot boy, 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:19.740 align:middle line:84% tanned to leather by the sun, selling popcorn or carrying 00:07:19.740 --> 00:07:24.750 align:middle line:84% itinerant salesmen's bags or leaping over stains of burnt oil 00:07:24.750 --> 00:07:29.130 align:middle line:84% on the railroad ties, or hanging unto a train car, 00:07:29.130 --> 00:07:32.850 align:middle line:84% headed off in the direction of memory, 00:07:32.850 --> 00:07:38.640 align:middle line:84% a faint murmur shattered by the howl of a train crossing the 00:07:38.640 --> 00:07:42.090 align:middle line:90% land of fog." 00:07:42.090 --> 00:07:45.440 align:middle line:90% [APLAUSOS] 00:07:45.440 --> 00:07:48.000 align:middle line:90%