Rosa do Morro

Life's like a book, only after you read it
Do you know what it holds, and when we
Reach the end of our lives, that's when we see
How our life played out, mine so far
Has been dark, dark is my skin
Dark is the place where I live!

Through the darkness, cracked feet, child in arms, tin on my head
Climbing up the hill, Miss Rosa, the rose of the hill, the rose that's black
Know this, not everything's roses, in the garden where she lives
There's poverty and crime, the cops oppress!
But that's where she came from, that's where she lives, that's where she loves!
Where the houses are made of pink plywood!

Rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose
Rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose
Rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose
Rose, rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose

On the paths she walked, she saw roses different from her
Saw white roses, red roses, and even yellow roses
Then she wondered, my God
Why does my color bother so much?
If not all roses... Are pink!

Rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose
Rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose
Rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose
Rose, rose, rose, rose of the hill, rose

Roberta Estrela Dalva
When I found out I’m a poet, I felt so sad
(Rose of the hill, rose)
There are so many beautiful things in the world that can't be described
(Rose of the hill, rose)
Is the fate of the black poet, as dark as their skin?
(Rose of the hill, rose)
I want to be free like the sun
(Rose of the hill)
Carolina Maria de Jesus
(Rose!)