‘Tactics and Strategy’ by Mario Benedetti

Tactics and Strategy

My tactic is to look at you

To learn how you are

Love you as you are

My tactic is to talk to you

And listen to you

And construct with words

An indestructible bridge

My tactic is to stay in your memory,

I don’t know how

Nor with what pretext

But stay within you

My tactic is to be honest

And know you are too

And that we don’t sell each other illusions

So that between us there is no curtain or abyss

My strategy instead is

Deeper and simpler.

My strategy is that some day

I don’t know how, nor with what pretext

That finally you need me.

-- Mario Benedetti (translated by Chris Kraul)