La Estaca

Old Siset spoke to me at dawn, in the doorway, while we waited for the sunrise and watched the carts go by. Siset, don't you see the stake we are all tied to? If we can't get rid of it, we can't move forward! 'If we all pull, it will fall, it can't last much longer, it will surely fall, fall, fall, it must be very rotten.' 'If I pull hard here and you pull hard there, it will surely fall, fall, fall, and we can free ourselves.' But, Siset, it's been so long, my hands are getting blistered, and as my strength fades, it grows bigger and bigger. I know it's rotten, but, Siset, it's so heavy, sometimes my strength fails me. Repeat your song to me: 'If we all pull, it will fall, it can't last much longer, it will surely fall, fall, fall, it must be very rotten.' 'If I pull hard here and you pull hard there, it will surely fall, fall, fall, and we can free ourselves.'