You who walk softly across the forest floor...
You who tread a trail woven
among leaves and rocks...
You who stare amazed at a flower bud
or who sings along
a songbird's song...
You who stop to watch your own mirage
on the surface of a pond...
You must look up at the canopy.
You must then be able to see
the creature that looks upon
soaring singing birds with shrewd envy.
Who is it?
Who else could it be?
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Its golden dream is to become a
being of the sky
and the clouds aloft...
It looks upon the forest from its
high niche; up there
where epiphytes thirstily raise their
leaves
as a thousand arms...
to renew their drink
while the creature strikes...
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Evolution ran past it,
leaving it behind...
When the reptiles were given wings
to conquer the sky...
it was one of those chosen not to reach
the azure atmosphere.
It remained scaly, perched on its tree
waiting for the wings
which never arrived...
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
It is one of those memorabilia
of a distant past
when dinosaurs ruled
as pure-blooded reptiles...
Its regal pop-eyes and horns
little majesty...
Its slippery sticky tongue
ready to shoot and snatch
an insect
with just a sighing thunderclap...
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleoooooooooooo
Why do you forget...?
That Nature never ever gave
wings to everyone...
not to sharks, not to rattlesnakes
not to whales nor men...
Chameleo, chameleo, it is a queer dream,
that which troubles you...
Yet Evolution was kind to you
giving you protection of a curious kind
so that you can hunt
and not miserably starve...
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Evolution allowed you to change
shifting your shade from mood to mood
with a wondrous palette
to choose from...
Now all creatures must watch out for you
for they never know
with what you could greet them today
whether with anger, or the purest love
but nevertheless
always with a different tone.
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Changing colors as you change your soul
never caring whether you swallow an insect
or a spider
or a bird or two...
You care only about your dream.
If it is not given to you
you do not care to steal
or for it to kill.
You just have to have it on this very second
now and here.
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Your golden dream is to become
airborne.
But now it is only you and me
face to face...
Airborne or not, come to meet your fate
come to lose your mask
to have it stripped away
in exchange for flight.
Chameleo, chameleo, see me now!
With your popping eyes ablaze
with fright...
Is this how you dare to present yourself
now that your dream I am going to grant?
Chameleo, chameleo, liar, liar, liar!
You wanted to believe your dream
could come true
and now it does.
But you, Chameleo, changeling from Hell,
ungrateful changeling from Hell,
you do not thank Nature.
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Your golden dream was to become
airborne...
and now it is yours.
See how do you do with feathers
that were not made for you,
stripped of your colors.
See how fast can you master flight...
before you fall...
from your bed.
Chameleo, chameleo, chameleooooooooooo
Your golden dream was to become
airborne.
Now it is yours, at last yours.
There is no way back to the niche
high in the treetops
that you left behind.
Good luck, chameleo changeling...
With pity
chameleo
I look
chameleooooooooooo
upon your
chameleo
forgetfulness
chameleooooooooooo
forgetfulness
Chameleooooooooooo...
Chameleo
behold
Chameleo
listen...
chameleooooooooooo
La mierda de los pájaros tambien cae
del cielo.
Chameleo
by Cindy Aixmar Salgado
