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Marcelino dos Santos - To point a moral to a comrade

 'when bullets begin to flower'

 Marcelino, as the elder statesman in the 90s

FIRST PAMPHLET

It isn't that things are easy,
nor is it being easy
that's essential.

The sunflower circles with the light
and that isn't easy but it's beautiful.

It is time to understand
that macala and malapa
grow on strong trees
in firm ground

and not in mud.

To go on studying or not to
is neither your nor my problem,
it's ours.

A hospital for the people,
a school for the people,

it's not true

in our land it's not possible
without digging the soil of the revoluton.

To expect rice
without sowing it
is not the history of man.

The second step
comes after the first
we live today
not yesterday nor tomorrow
and the mission of us all

is

REALISE THE PROGRAME OF FRELIMO
COMPLETE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
AN END OF EXPLOITATION OF MAN BY MAN

Today's task,
comrade,

is, dig the basic soil of Revolution
and make a strong people grow
with a submachine gun, a bazooka, a 12.7
in Muidumbe, in Catur
and to the south again
in Nampula, Macequece and Inhambane

And a strong people,
comrade,

will move mountains

create hospitals
create schools.

As the first young shoots proclaimed
in Cabo Delgado and Niassa Province

We are FRELIMO soldiers
Accomplishing our task
digging the basic soil of revolution.

[Marcelino's poem posted by Phil Hall]

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