Poetry: A Long Journey to Independence – Filomena dos Reis written: Oct.08 1999
This poem written in 1999, has been published in ‘Written in Blood’ by Filomena Barros dos Reis. Performed November 10th 2007 at the Boite Cafe to Commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Suai Church Massacre.
Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.
A Long Journey to Independence
We did not want to be slaves in our own land
We wanted to have self-rule
We wept and screamed for twenty-five years
Because we wanted self-determination
To rule ourselves
We, the women of Timor-Leste
Shed tears, wept and screamed
Because we wanted self-rule, to have self-rule
We did not want to be slaves in our
own land
We stood! We stepped ahead
With courage and folded fist
We screamed louder!
Live or die, we wanted independence
We shed our blood
Flowing like a river
In every corner of Timor-LesteThe women of Timor-Leste forgot
their suffering
Because independence has now been accomplished.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Hi Jen,
Here’s a beautiful poem, translated to tetum 🙂
I love the message it brings!
Best regards*
Dalan Naruk ba Independensia
Ami lakohi atu sai atan iha ami nia Rai
Ami hakarak iha lei rasik
Ami tanis no hakilar durante tinan rua nulu resin lima
Tanba ami hakarak atu determinasaun
Atu ukun an no iha lei rasik
Ami, feto Timor oan,
Fakar matan-been, tanis no hakilar tiha ona
Tanba ami hakarak iha lei rasik, atu hetan lei rasik
ami lakohi atu sai atan iha ami nia rain nebe ami horik ba.
Ami hakat ba oin ho
Aten-barani no kumu-liman
Ami bolu hakilar!
Moris ka mate, ami hakarak independensia
Ami nia ran nakfakar
Suli hanesan mota
To’o sikun hotu iha Timor Leste
Ami, feto timoroan, haluha tiha ona
Katak uluk ami terus
Tanba independensia ne mak los
Autora: Filomena dos Reis
Tradusaun: Sara Moreira & Zulmira Ximenes
January 26th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Hey Sara and Zulmira, Obrigada barak – thank you very much for your contribution to the preservation of Tetun and Timorese culture on suai media space…Ha’u senta haksolok barak :).
March 20th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
[…] politics, business, sports, entertainment, real estate, classifieds for the expatriate community.Suai Media Space Blog Archive Poetry: A Long Journey to …Poetry: A Long Journey to Independence Filomena dos Reis written: Oct.08 1999 … has been published […]