La otra noche mientras iba caminando como un curda,
tranco a tranco, solo y triste, recorriendo el veredón,
sentí el filo de una pena que en el lado de la 'zurda'
se empeñaba traicionera por tajear mi corazón.
Entre harapos lamentables una pobre limosnera
sollozando su desgracia a mi lado se acercó,
y al tirarle unas monedas a la vieja pordiosera
vi que el rostro avergonzado con las manos se tapó.

Yo la he visto cuando mozo ir tejiendo fantasías
con sus sueños de alto vuelo y sus noches de champán.
¡Pobrecita! quien pensara los finales de sus días
y en la trágica limosna vergonzante que hoy le dan.
Me alejé, Vieja Recova, de su lado, ¡te imaginas,
de la amiga de otros tiempos, qué dolor llegué a sentir!
Lo que ayer fuera grandeza hoy mostraba sólo ruinas,
y unas lágrimas porfiadas no las pude desmentir.

Vieja Recova,
rinconada de su vidas
la encontré sola y perdida
como una muestra fatal.
La mala suerte
le jugó una carta brava,
se le dio vuelta la taba,
la vejez la derrotó.
¡Vieja Recova, si vieras cuánto dolor!

English translation

The other night as I was walking like a curda,
stride by stride, alone and sad, walking along the veredón,
I felt the edge of a sorrow that on the side of the 'left-handed' side
was treacherously determined to cut my heart.
Amidst pitiful rags a poor beggar woman
sobbing her misfortune at my side approached,
and as I threw a few coins to the old beggar woman
I saw that she covered her ashamed face with her hands.

I have seen her as a young man weaving fantasies
with her high-flying dreams and her champagne nights.
Poor thing! who would have thought of the end of her days
and the tragic and shameful alms they give her today.
I walked away, Old Recova, from her side, can you imagine!
from the friend of other times, what pain I came to feel!
What yesterday was greatness today showed only ruins,
and I could not deny them with stubborn tears.

Old Recova,
corner of her life
I found it alone and lost
like a fatal token.
Bad luck
played her a tough card,
her cards were turned upside down,
old age defeated her.
Old Recova, if you saw how much pain!