La Mamá Vieja
Eduardo Mateo
The Old Mother
The old mother always commands
Sometimes she sweats when she dances
The rhythm weighs on her in the call
The mother knows and speaks to them
Everyone stops to listen to her
She works hard but still sings
Today the convent is filled with candombe and with mama
Everyone moves to the beat
With mama
One day the mother opens the door
She was thin and with the grandmother
The grandmother dies and she remains
The old mother sometimes cries
It seems like she feels lonely
Watching children in the circles