O Colono

I saw a handsome young man, on a main street
A colonist passed by, dressed very poorly
The young man started laughing, made a carnival there
I decided to write some verses, for this certain fellow

Don't laugh at that colonist, sir
The farmer passing by
Admiring the movement
Suspiciously he goes stumbling
He didn't come here to ask you for anything
He's buying tools
He is worthy of our respect
Working from sunrise to sunset
Don't play the flute, don't call him rude
He's fighting to feed you in the fields

If his suit is not in fashion
It's no reason to laugh
This colonist passing by
Is a Brazilian with calloused hands
If his hat has a wide brim
He bought it and doesn't owe you anything
He's a farmer who honors the homeland
Harvesting the fruits of the cultivated land
And if it weren't for this strong colonist
You would have to pick up the hoe

And if you had to pick up the hoe
I wanted to see you, modern young man
Handle the kick of a plow
And an axe to cut the horn
And face twelve hours of sun
In a strong summer, you'd sweat in your suit
Milking, pulling out cassava
In July, in the heart of winter
Your delicate little hands
Would develop calluses and turn into hell

This colonist faces all this
And much more, I haven't even said half
Plants and harvests with sweat on his face
To support us here in the city
Don't laugh anymore at this colonist
Go study at a university
Get a doctorate, go to the fields
Notice how much difficulty there is
Do something for our colonists
May God reward you for such kindness