Llegó Volando

(Rhythm of saya. Text written secretly, Chile, November 1973.)

The crow came flying over my ground
to sow ruins and despair.
For long centuries the yanaconas
They gave him the keys to the crown.
For long centuries it was bleeding
the soil of the towns that he was violating.
Drilling the farmland
to dig for the gold of temperance.

He wiped both hands with my flag
and there was no shortage of people in my country who applauded.

Because there are unfortunate people who, for crumbs
They kiss the dirty boot that insults them.

There are some who puff themselves up with great care
serving the greed of the foreigner.
And others who enjoy themselves for a thousand dinars*
handing over his town to the military.
I demand a wall with lime and stone
for the people to judge from time to time.
As the dawn arrives sooner or later,
justice for Indian-American pain.**

The insatiable crow came flying again
bringing us its endless shadow.

But the day of mercy is not far away
in which we rise against the sabers
to announce the dawn of the continent.***

* In the cassette "Patricio Manns in Chile" it says: and others who enjoy themselves with ten dinars. In the Inti-Illimani DVD, "Common Places Live" it says: and others who enjoy themselves with ten dollars.
** In "Places Live" it says: justice for American cries.
*** In "Patricio Manns in Chile" he says: But the inclement day is not far away / when we rise against the sabers / to announce the dawn of the continent. In "Places Live" he says: But the inclement day is not far away / when we rise against the beasts / to announce the dawn of the continent.