Nomes de Favela
Paulo César Pinheiro
Favela Names
The rooster no longer crows in Cantagalo
The water no longer flows in Cachoeirinha
Children no longer pick mangoes in Mangueira
And now the big city is Rocinha!
No one makes love vows in Juramento
No one leaves Morro do Adeus
Pleasure ended in Morro dos Prazeres
And life is hell in Cidade de Deus
I'm not from the time of guns
That's why I still prefer
To hear a samba verse
Than to hear the sound of gunfire
For the poetry of favela names
Life there used to be more beautiful
It used to be much better to live
But today that same poetry asks for help
Either life changes in the favela
Or all the names will change
