Alma Novaes

 

Vilification I

Garlic is mixed with apples

The oxen will always have a name

And it will always be averse to democracy

A man ain't a party

If not the values he defends!

And when the party doesn't defend 

ideals and yes interests, the regime gives

Room for all kinds of euphemisms

To mask the real reason for the attacks

Don't bring false questions!

Be men, not thieves.

Malgré l’opium II

Il était une fois des hommes 

qui avaient le sens de l’homme d’État

Et ils se tinrent à l’écart 

pour ne pas se fondre dans la masse

Un jour, les hommes étaient raides et loyaux

Et ils ne se sont pas servis de l’État, 

mais ils ont servi la nation

Ce jour-là continuerait à venger,

S’il y avait des hommes qui avaient de la dignité, 

le sens de l’État et la valeur de la liberté,

qui ne se convertiraient pas

chez plus de rats de sacristie. 

Ne le mettez pas dans le même panier

Toute votre amertume et vos frustrations

Vous êtes toujours en vie

Vous avez toujours une voix

Mais en plus de les jeter

Et jetter des noms sur les coupables

Allez-y et faites mieux

Que tes ancêtres

Plan A III

For a democracy of direct representation,

that true democracy requires

What none has hitherto to give of those who speak, 

Transparency, lucidity and sense of duty

Plan B IV

And if it seems crude or postmodern to you, 

and I tell you, don't testify to it

or dogma to continue in the path 

of the temple peddlers

Go into democracy

Where there are more examples of this, 

refuse to vote;

or if you are a true devotee 

of equality and fraternity,

"Bind the parties together,

to govern the country, 

without any more opposition"

The people will be your reputation

Oblige the Members of Parliament 

of the Democracy to share the same portfolio, 

that of govern the nation, 

together, elected to form

A team, "the national team"

not a contraption, where 

One is more in charge than the others

but where everyone is a solution 

and no problem.

If you want a nation 

Well-run house

that reflects your ideals, 

do not devise schemes,

doctrines or diadems

to save your skin

and forget who elects you.

Break the trickery

to which you have become accustomed,

Forget the religion you preach

and make a difference

without recourse to your vices

Institutional

Defend the people and not your own interests

Do not be like the rest

And now, I hear the soundtrack

Of men who for ideals

illustrated and deluded themselves

Fought and listened to each other 

sing in unison,

in a secular post-dictatorship country

The people are the ones 

who give the most orders.

Within thee, O nation.