Take a rural worker
Unplanted from his land,
Strip the leaves of his rights,
Mix him up with road dust
And lay him in the sun to dry.
Drop him, in an instant,
In the common pit of discard.
Stir in the slur of riot.
Spill the pot of horror on the poor
’Til the mix is thick with terror.
Add a dash of ill-omen
And sprinkle, speculating,
Threatening strips of toll-charge.
Leave to set in silence
Grileiro-grabber land-greed,
Lands left fallow,
Assassin saga
Of war-sowers
Land-hoarders.
Boil down the lies
In official cauldrons
’Til density’s settled
In a national network.
Serve up repression
With impunity
On the latifundium’s estately tray.