Existe um povo que a bandeira empresta
P’ra cobrir tanta inf?mia e cobardia!…
E deixa-a transformar-se nessa festa
Em manto impuro de bacante fria!…
Meu Deus! meu Deus! mas que bandeira ? esta,
Que impudente na gavea tripudia?
Sil?ncio. Musa… chora, e chora tanto
Que o pavilh?o se lave no teu pranto!…
Auriverde pendao de minha terra,
Que a brisa do Brasil beija e balan?a,
Estandarte que a luz do sol encerra
E as promessas divinas da esperan?a…
Tu que, da liberdade ap?s a guerra,
Foste hasteado dos her?is na lan?a
Antes te houvessem roto na batalha,
Que servires a um povo de mortalha!…
Fatalidade atroz que a mente esmaga!
Extingue nesta hora o brigue imundo
O trilho que Colombo abriu nas vagas,
Como um iris no p?lago profundo!
Mas ? inf?mia demais!… Da et?rea plaga
Levantai-vos, her?is do Novo Mundo!
Andrada! arranca esse pendao dos ares!
Colombo! fecha a porta dos teus mares!
English Translation
A people exist who lean the flag
To cover such infamy and cowardice!..
And let it change at this feast
Into an impure mantle of a cold bacchante!
My God! My God! But which flag is this,
That imprudent on the topsail sways?
Silence. Muse.cry, and cry so much
That the flag be washed with your tears!
Gold-green flag of my land,
That the breeze from Brazil kisses and sways,
Flag that in the sunlight captures
The divine promises of hope.
You, who in the liberty after the war,
Were raised on the hero’s lance
Rather had you been torn in the battle,
Then to serve as shroud to the people!
Atrocious fatality that the mind crushes!
Extinguish now the dirt brig,
The track that Columbus opened in the waves,
Like an iris in the deep abyss!
But this is too much infamy!.. of the ethereal land
Rise, heroes of the New World!
Andrada, rip that flag of the air!
Columbus, close the door of your seas!
(Antonio de Castro Alves)
More Poetry from Antonio de Castro Alves:
Antonio de Castro Alves Poems based on Topics: English, God, World, War & Peace, Cowardice, Heroism, Silence, Hope, Mind, Cry, Liberty & Freedom- O Navio Negreiro Part 4. (With English Translation) (Antonio de Castro Alves Poems)
- O Navio Negreiro Part 2 (With English Translation) (Antonio de Castro Alves Poems)
- Goodbye (Antonio de Castro Alves Poems)
- O Navio Negreiro Part 3. (With English Translation) (Antonio de Castro Alves Poems)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, World Poems, Mind Poems, War & Peace Poems, Cry Poems, Hope Poems, People Poems, Silence Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Heroism Poems, English PoemsBased on Keywords: mas, ares, luz, dos, mia, deus, brazil, esse, lan, mundo, mares