Also to the slave a humble grave
A moan comes from nostalgia:
Only one tear runs upon it
From compassion maybe….
Son of Africa, finally free of irons
You sleep peaceful the eternal sleep
Under this ground that you watered
With tears and sweat.
Sure, sweeter it would be now
To lay there in the middle of your deserts
At the shadow of the palm, under
Merciful dew of nostalgic eyes
To irrigate your grave;
There, many times in nights of clear moon,
A moaning song, of monotonous sound
From rustic lira played by your brothers,
Your manes rouse:
But here – you lay as a leaf
Fallen in the dust of the road,
Pressed under the indifferent feet
Of a passing by traveller.
But what does it matter- if found the rest,
Which in vain sought in this dark valley,
Fertile of tears and pain;
What matters – if there is not on this earth
A quiet asylum for the unfortunates?
The earth is only for the rich and powerful,
And these idols that fortune praises,
Who, drunken of pride,
Drive, without seeing that with fast wheels
Their golden carriages crush a beggar
In the mud of the way! …
But the heaven is for the one who in life
Under the weight of the cross passes moaning;
It is for the one who on the wounds of the miserable
Let flow the sweet balm of tears;
And the unfortunate orphan, the tired elder,
Those who lean the indigence in all burden;
to the poor captive, who in works
In the rude anxiety exhales the extreme breath;
— Heaven is for the innocence and virtue,
Heaven is for the misfortune.
Rest now at peace, faithful slave,
You who in your grave broke your chains,
Within this land that you watered
With tears and sweat.
And you who came to visit the death
This gloomy room,
Leave at least one tear drop
From compassion on this humble grave;
Here rests the ashes of the African,
— The symbol of misfortune
(Bernardo Guimaraes)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, Night Poems, Death & Dying Poems, War & Peace Poems, Heaven Poems, Pain Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Sons Poems, Work & Career Poems, Pride PoemsBased on Keywords: indigence, nostalgic, lira, unfortunates, irrigate
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