Fame, soedade e bágoas
Noutrora morría o lume
e os nenos topeneaban
namentras o Manuel
botaba unha ollada ás vacas.
O compañeiro morreu
e os fillos, ¡quen os xuntara!,
que o vento da emigración
espallounos como fiaspas.
¿Por quen agardas, María,
coa Lúa chea de lobos
e as estrela afogadas
na fonda cunca dos ollos?
¿Por quen agardas teimosa
na noite mais ateigada?,
ninguén precisa de tí
nin tí precisas xa nada.
¡Se foses nova!, ¡quen sabe!
se aló nunha patria estrana
atoparía-la quentura
dun home, un pan e unha casa.
Que esta terra soio dá
fame, soedade e bágoas.
¡Ai quen poidera fuxir
na compaña da esperanza!.
Agora xa non, María,
somentes a terra agarda
e chama por ti mainiño
pra que xurdas nas carpazas.
Pra que xurdas na carpazas,
pra que emergullas nas fontes,
pra te acaneares nas arbres
ó compas do vento norte.
Mais agarda outro anaquiño,
miña vella na lareira,
que tein de voltar un día
e han de atopar lume nela.
Tí es que garda-la patria,
María , coa vida acesa,
non deixes morre-lo lume
astra que eles traian leña.
Fame, Loneliness, and Tears
Once upon a time the fire would die
and the kids would play
while Manuel
would glance at the cows.
The companion died
and the children, who would bring them together!,
the wind of emigration
scattered them like sparks.
Who are you waiting for, Maria,
with the moon full of wolves
and the stars drowned
in the deep bowl of your eyes?
Who are you stubbornly waiting for
in the most crowded night?,
no one needs you
and you don't need anything anymore.
If you were young!, who knows!
if there in a strange homeland
I would find the warmth
of a man, a bread, and a house.
For this land only gives
hunger, loneliness, and tears.
Oh, who could escape
in the company of hope!.
Now not anymore, Maria,
only the land awaits
and calls for you gently
so you may rise from the ashes.
To rise from the ashes,
to dive into the fountains,
to hide in the trees
to the beat of the northern wind.
But wait a little longer,
my old one by the fireplace,
for you shall return one day
and they shall find fire in it.
You are the one who keeps the homeland,
Maria, with life ablaze,
do not let the fire die out
until they bring firewood.