Oh, Terra

by Sr. Fatima Borges, SNDdeN, Brazil

Oh! Terra
fragil e ao mesmo tempo forte

Oh! Earth
fragile and at the same time strong

que rompe as barreiras da ignorancia humana
e junto com o silencio do universo

you break the barricades of human ignorance
and in the deepest silence of the universe

conspiram para criar e recriar
condicoes para haja mais vida na terra.

you conspire to create and re-create
conditions that nourish more life on earth.

Oh! Terra
de todos,
para todos…
terra de alguns…

Oh! Earth
land of all and for all…
yet land of few…

ferida, machucada, acabada, humilhada…

land wounded, bruised, trampled, humiliated.

sonha de muitos
realidade de uns poucos
que lutam loucamente para que um dia
seja de todos.

even though you are possessed by few
you are the dream of many
who struggle like mad (loucamente) so that one day
you may again be  land for all.

Oh! Terra
Quao fecunda es tu

Oh! Earth
how fertile/ fruitful you are

que aceitas o desafio
de em teu ventre sagrado
guardar a semente e
aguardar anciosamente
a transformation da vida

as you accept the challenge
of protecting the seed
deep within your sacred womb
as you anxiously await
the transformation of life.

Oh! Terra
Tu que carregas em teu seio
As marcas da agressao humana
Que desconhecendo as tuas entranhas sagradas
Transforma a vida em morte

Oh! Earth
You who carry in your bosom
The scars of human aggression from those who
Know not your innermost sacredness
And transform life into death!

Ainda assim,
Com todos os martirios sofridos
Mae, assim es tu para nos, oh! terra
Que da semente guardada em teu ventre
Silenciosamente gera uma gigantesca arvore
Acolhe-os em teu seio maternal
Acolhe-os porque a essencia de ti e'
Doacao, libertacao e compaixao…
Porque traz em ti o extase da vida.

And yet, oh Earth, with all the suffering martyrs
You welcome us in your maternal bosom
You welcome us because the essence of who you are is
Gift-giving, liberation and compassion.
Because you carry within you the ecstasy of life!
Mother Earth, this is how you are for us!
Who, from a tiny seed held within your womb,
Silently give birth to a gigantic tree.

Oh! Terra
Quantos nao se alimentaram de ti!
Sem conhercer-te ainda.

Oh Earth!
How many are nourished by you
without even knowing you.


"Terra", poem by Fatima Borges, Irmas de Notre Dame
Belem, Para, Brazilian Amazon, January, 2008.