Christmas Eve - Deolinda Rodrigues

—7:00 PM

by the latrine.

Yeah, it’s all set up,

I didn’t miss a thing.

Everything’s ready

to get you out of here.

Just have to know

if the pilot’s waiting

and then you run.

If they find you, I’m shot, so

What do I get for running the risk?

Past 7:00 now.

Chains teach you self-delusion;

while you’re waiting on the

arranged signal

dream your dreams:

tomorrow’s Christmas.

Christmas in freedom.

Damn . . . to be with comrades

breathing the air of dignity

to become myself again.

The signal!?

—We going now?

—Not yet . . . later,

first I get me some

over there

in the grass.

They don’t want to?

Shit . . . well, get ready,

They all ready?

Gotta move fast.

Well, I’ll come get you at midnight.

—

The signal!? No.

It’s daytime.

Another night

waiting in vain.

It’s Christmas.

Christmas in prison.

---

Deolinda Rodrigues [Deolinda Rodrigues Francisco de Almeida, aka Langidila ("Mother of the Revolution")] (1939 - 1967) Angola

Translated by Chris Daniels

Source: Archival: Revolutionary Poetry from Lusophone Africa Selected & Translated by Chris Daniels, Tripwire, no. 17, 2021