De Vida e Tempo
César Oliveira
Of Life and Time
When I tip my hat over my neck
My heart pokes me, beats hard like a bell
I feel the blood pulsing stronger in my veins
It seems that the shadow of Martin Fierro surrounds me
I grew up free, running through the marsh
Yelling loudly with the cattle, in the days of rough work
In the batoví, I lost dreams and sorrows
That were forgotten with the waters, from the reculuta floods
(I cut paths in culatras and fiadores
Raising feathers and loves, in a wide cry of come
I roamed memories on calm nights
Acclimating winters in my southern pampa)
I carry in my belongings a wrapped poncho and longing
From a time that was true and reblooms with each dawn
Life goes by and bad luck softens
After the spur leaves a mark on the boot's counter
I was born in a ranch, thatched from Santa Fé
I am of reed and water hyacinth, caraguatá and japecanga
I am from Rio Grande, my homeland portrays the image
Of a bull that sharpens its horn in the creek's hollows
