Night of the fanfares

It's raining on the day of the Sun god
grey clouds descend from the skies
horses of crystal gallop
angels
bring storms of cold tinsel.
On the night of fanfares
of cold street corners
and smoke of cardboard
merchants
sell golden illusions
clerical dreams
cribs without children
in plastic trees.
The pharisee
in black frock coat and red hat
in his litany of holy man
dresses in peace.
In the name of the holy heavens
he raises his hand
blesses hypocrisy
blesses wars
and children's hunger.
He condemns women with white hands
who at sunset
wash lies from the shrouds.
The myth rises
from the fatuity of temples
and descends the streets
of dreams without hope.
In the dark room of deceits
a ragged cape warms my thoughts
twenty-fifth of December
Sun god disappears from the firmament.

London, Christmas 1987
© Carlos Reyes-Manzo

Christmas in Peixinhos

Ding dong bell, ding dong bell
ring the bells
it's Christmas in Peixinhos.

                                              A child is born
                                              many children
                                in houses of cardboard
                                        in houses of metal.

In Peixinhos the Child is born
children of love
children of suffering.

                                                 Ring the bells
                      in Peixinhos there are no stars
                               to guide the Three Kings.

Be silent bells
the mother is crying
she's crying for her child
her son in her arms.

                               Through Rua do Cóndor
                                           the mother walks
                                      the child in her arms
                                        she walks suffering
                                      the child in her arms.

The mother, the neighbours
and the priest pray for the child
pray for the children
who do not know Christmas.

                         The bells ring in the distance
                        ding dong bell, ding dong bell
                             it's Christmas in Peixinhos.

Peixinhos, Recife, Brazil 1987
© Carlos Reyes-Manzo

Human Rights Day

On Human Rights Day I would like to share a poem I wrote so that we do not forget what torture is


Torture

Darkness of the black hood
Torture

Loneliness of solitary confinement
Torture

Electric shock
Torture

Interrogation with dogs
Torture

Defenceless nakedness
Torture

Blows from the soldiers
Torture

Sexual violence
Torture

Endless hours of immobility
Torture

Detention without trial
Torture

Disappeared in anonymous prisons
Torture

© Carlos Reyes-Manzo