Pedro Shimose (born 30 March 1940) is a poet, journalist, professor and essayist. Considered as one of the great poets of Bolivia, his poetry touches on themes of national identity and social liberation. He has been the recipient of a number of literary awards including the coveted Casa de las Americas Prize.

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A midsummer night's dream

Pedro Shimose

You finish cleaning out the dust and the ashes, doing all the errands,

peeling the potatoes, washing, doing the dishes, throwing out the trash,

finish eating leftovers in a corner of the kitchen

and go hide in your room,

look at yourself in a shattered mirror,

daub your eyebrows, makeup,

listen to soap operas, glance through True Romances,

go to the local movie to see another Alain Delon,

play at being a star like Marilyn or Sophia,

look at your navel,

become ecstatic looking at your navel,

move over your shadow with azaleas and gardenias,

walk over your body with a miniskirt and sunken eyes,

imagine hitting the jackpot in the lottery,

paint your dirty nails,

spell out the astrological prediction for tomorrow,

dream about your prince charming,

about the fairy godmother, with the magic wand,

you are the girl with the crystal slipper,

the one at the midnight ball with horses that are mice

and coaches that are pumpkins.

Look natita, you're pretty, but

wash your underarms and stop the foolishness,

the mistress is calling!

Translated by Robert Marquez

*Third World Resurgence No. 281/282, January/February 2014, p 64