_edited.jpg){kind=small}
The poem América Latina by Nicomedes Santa Cruz, Afro-Peruvian artist.
América Latina | Latin America |
Mi cuate Mi socio Mi hermano Aparcero Camarado Compañero Mi pata M´hijito Paisano... He aquí mis vecinos. He aquí mis hermanos. Las mismas caras latinoamericanas de cualquier punto de America Latina: Indoblanquinegros Blanquinegrindios Y negrindoblancos Rubias bembonas Indios barbudos Y negros lacios Todos se quejan: -¡Ah, si en mi país no hubiese tanta política...! -¡Ah, si en mi país no hubiera gente paleolítica...! -¡Ah, si en mi país no hubiese militarismo, ni oligarquía ni chauvinismo ni burocracia ni hipocresía ni clerecía ni antropofagia... -¡Ah, si en mi país... Alguien pregunta de dónde soy (Yo no respondo lo siguiente): Nací cerca del Cuzco admiro a Puebla me inspira el ron de las Antillas canto con voz argentina creo en Santa Rosa de Lima y en los orishás de Bahía. Yo no coloreé mi Continente ni pinté verde a Brasil amarillo Perú roja Bolivia. Yo no tracé líneas territoriales separando al hermano del hermano. Poso la frente sobre Río Grande me afirmo pétreo sobre el Cabo de Hornos hundo mi brazo izquierdo en el Pacífico y sumerjo mi diestra en el Atlántico. Por las costas de oriente y occidente doscientas millas entro a cada Océano sumerjo mano y mano y así me aferro a nuestro Continente en un abrazo Latinoamericano. | My buddy My partner My brother Colleague Comrade Companion My pal My son Compatriot... Here are my neighbors. Here are my brothers. The same Latin American faces from anywhere in Latin America: Indiwhiteblacks Whiteblackindians And Blackindowhites Pretty blondes Bearded indigenous And languid black men Everyone complains: -Ah, if in my country wouldn't have so much politics...! -Ah, if in my country wouldn't have paleolithic people...! -Ah, if in my country wouldn't have militarism, no oligarchy no chauvinism no bureaucracy no hypocrisy no clergy nor anthropophagi... -Ah, if in my country... Someone asks where I'm from (I do not answer the following): I was born near Cuzco I admire Puebla the rum of the Antilles inspires me I sing with an Argentine voice I believe in Santa Rosa de Lima and in the orishás of Bahia. I did not color my Continent I didn't paint Brazil in green Peru in yellow Bolivian in red. I did not draw territorial lines separating brother from brother. I lay my head on the Rio Grande I affirm myself stony on Cape Horn I plunge my left arm into the Pacific and I plunge my right hand into the Atlantic. Along the east and west coasts Two hundred miles I enter each ocean I dip hand and hand and so I cling to our Continent in a Latin American embrace. |
Note: The English version available in this post is a loose translation from the original text.
About The Poet
Nicomedes Santa Cruz Gamarra (1925-1992) was a Peruvian poet, singer and journalist. From his décimas, he promoted Afro-Peruvian culture, valuing his identity as a black man and Afro-Peruvian folklore. Along with her sister (Victoria Santa Cruz) they were important for the revival of black culture in Peru in the 1960s and 1970s.