With strength and with gusto
happiness must be spread out
to the greatest extent
We must water the arid,
wipe the tears from eyes,
lighten up the dark alleys
before it is too late
We must raid the bars1
and retake the streets
and visit the homes
before it is too late
We must strip away the darkness
and bless the daylight
and put away the stones
before it is too late
We must leave seeds
in the most blessed fruit
in the ground and in the womb
before it is too late
We must make a show
and free the dreams
of our young people
before it is too late
We must change the people
before the flame dies away,
before faith comes to an end,
before it is too late.
1. this strikes me as wrong, maybe "bares" should be "barras" which might make more sense