Las coplas del pajarito
Rolando Alárcon
The Bird's Verses
On the branch of a cactus
a little bird was complaining:
"Everyone wants to rule
with chains and hammers."
Oh yes, oh no,
my heart's little bird.
Oh yes, oh no,
a bird full of pain.
American brothers,
let's raise our heads
and ask the men
to fulfill their promises.
American brothers,
our lands are not poor
but they come from afar
and leave us with nothing.
When a poor person asks for help
they deny it right away.
They tell so many stories
that the poor person leaves content.
And if taxes need to be paid
they'll send the poor first
while the rich are busy
stuffing money into an envelope.
The homeland asks its children
for respect and sanity.
The children give the homeland
characters with tough skin.
On the branch of a cactus
the little bird doesn't sing.
From seeing so much injustice
its throat dried up!
