O Sentido da Vida

This is a story that has moved many people
It’s about a man
Who thought that in his life, many things
Just didn’t make sense

It’s the story of a farmer
A man without a heart
But one day he paid dearly
For his neglect and ingratitude

Of the four kids he had
He doted on three of them
With love and lots of praise
And the other was the youngest, who would be his fate

Just because she was a girl
He didn’t hide his disappointment
And he would tell everyone
That a son had to be a man

To help his dad with the work
And that one day he’d own his own land
And that a daughter was a burden
Besides not being fit for work, she wouldn’t know how to give orders

And could never be a boss
Everywhere he went, he took his three sons
But he looked down on the girl
And she, heartbroken, cried in secret

She stayed in her corner
Knowing that the biggest mistake of her life
Was being born a girl
That was the only guilt she carried

But one day, tired
Of the neglect she suffered
She called her dad aside
And spoke the truth

Dad, you saw me born
But you never cared for me
I’ve heard you say a lot
That your biggest pride is your cattle ranch

And seeing your sons by your side
On horseback or on a tractor
But it’s only my brothers you talk about
Because you never cared about me

And at that moment, from the girl’s eyes
A tear rolled down
But she continued her thoughts
And, even crying, she spoke

I could have easily been born a boy
Maybe that was the mistake of my fate
That I think didn’t help me
But now I see that being your daughter

Was truly a mistake, I’m already twelve
And I’ve never received a kiss or a hug from you
And with a wounded soul and a burning heart
I’m leaving this house and your life

He heard the words
Of that poor girl
But he wasn’t moved by her tears
And still said

I’ve never heard such nonsense!
So much to do and here I am
Wasting time on your nonsense
And if you want to know, I only have three sons

And since you want to leave
You can go right ahead
And she left, hit the road and was gone
Only taking a bag with the clothes she wore

Never sent a word
And never came back
A few years passed
And the farmer began to see his fate up close

Of the children he always praised
It wasn’t what he expected
And his ruin began
More time passed

The farmer started losing money
As the disease killed his cattle
The kids he adored
Only thought about partying and freedom

They didn’t care about the ranch
Spent the whole year partying
And thus they wasted
All the money they had

The farmer became desperate
His blood boiled in his veins
Spending on lawyers
To get his drugged kids out of jail

After getting old and tired
He found himself a defeated man
Abandoned by his own kids
In a deep, dark hole

Despised by everyone
Completely alone and in debt
The ranch that was once his enchanted kingdom
He had to sell to a buyer from another state

Who matched the offer made
And accepted the conditions he asked for
That he would only sell the property
If he could stay there

Even if it was to work as an employee
Just to live out the rest of his days
And, with his pride wounded
Recognizing his failure

Seeing that everything he built
With his own hands
Was now just a lost dream
Destroyed by his children

And made him a simple employee
Old and tired
One day, he was sitting under a tree
Admiring all that was once his

When he received the message
That he was going to be let go
And he went to the ranch office
When he arrived, they were already telling him

The paperwork is ready
Just need your signature
And he, nervous, replied
Just so you know, your secretary

That all of this was once mine
The day I sold this ranch
The buyer knew I’d be here
Working as an employee

The broker told me he agreed
Said he lived in another state
Since I don’t even know him
Because he never showed up

You can send a message to your boss
Tell him that I’ll still be buried on this land
And I won’t sign a resignation paper
She then replied

You’re very mistaken
You came in here calling me secretary
But I’m the owner of the ranch
And you’re my employee

He lowered his head and fell silent
But then replied
I’ve never felt so humiliated in my life
You can give me the paperwork, I’ll sign my resignation

I’d rather hit the road
Than have to call a woman my boss
She took some papers and a pen from the drawer
And placed them in his hand

After he signed
She stood up and said
You seem to be crying
If you want, you can go on

Because I have more to do
And he left, head down
Knowing he was leaving
But without a clear direction

His life turned into a desert
And he felt like an abandoned old man
That’s when a little boy came
And said to him

Why are you crying, standing still
While my mom is also crying looking at you?
I’ve never seen her mistreat an employee
But you can rest easy

You don’t need to cry anymore
She’s coming right now
And she’ll surely ask for your forgiveness
When he saw her approaching, he said

I don’t need your comfort
And certainly not your forgiveness
You’re rich and a ranch owner
And I’m an old man with nothing in life

But I’ll leave here with my head held high
And as I cross that gate I built
I want to hear the sound of the slam
That used to mark my arrival

But today it points me to the road
That, ironically, will be my starting point
I’m already leaving
I’ve even grabbed my bag

You can take care of your employees
I don’t need a goodbye
Because from this land that was once my life
I can’t leave like this, so humiliated

She then spoke
This time you’re not mistaken
With disdain and humiliation
No one reaches happiness

But I see you’ve learned the lesson
There’s just one thing you still haven’t realized
For thirty years, I’ve followed your steps
I saw your glory and your failure

And if you still don’t recognize me
I’ll tell you the truth
One day I was also humiliated and despised
By my parents and my siblings

At twelve years old
I hit the road
Carrying bitterness and loneliness
And I promised myself that one day I would win

And when I succeeded in life, I would return
To show my worth
But I already see in your eyes, in the tears
That you know who I am

I learned that revenge
Is not a good alliance
It only increases our pain
Please, my father, enough with the crying

Let’s not suffer anymore
Give me a kiss and a hug
Because I also want to give you a hug and a kiss
The world taught me to live

And life taught me to forgive
So you don’t need to leave
You already have your ranch back to take care of
And to understand better

I insist on showing
The papers you signed on my desk
And that, nervous, you didn’t even read before signing
They weren’t your resignation

They were the deed to the ranch
That I’m returning to your hands
This is the gift I wanted to give you
And you don’t need to worry about me

I’ll be here close by
In another ranch I just bought
And since you’re not leaving anymore
Give me your bag

Because your grandson also wants to hug you
And he, who was feeling so alone
When the boy hugged him
Kissed his face, calling him grandpa

If he still had bitterness in his mind
At that moment, it all ended
Crying, he embraced his daughter and grandson
Asked for forgiveness for the past

Totally regretful
He became an honorable man again
And only then, for him, life
Finally made sense