Poem — Posthumous memories
When I say
I’m tired of all things
Don’t try to save me
Let me cut my fists
And bleed till midday light
When they realize
I’m already dead
Turn this day
into a holy holiday
Put your children
in my blood
Show off my body
on an altar of glory and power
Speak lies in my name
remember memories
I never lived
Nor did it
I would like to have lived them
Put flowers on my grave
Shout from every corner
how much they miss me
Say
I love you more than all things
As you look at my old photographs of moments
From which you could have said
such sweet words to me
Yes!
Sail in my name
Tell my relatives and friends
they miss me
But please forget the times
of which I was at your side
Forget once and for all
the cold steps I’ve taken
through these empty, hateful streets
Don’t you remember mine
fingernails scratching these dirty
walls while crying out for help
Close your eyes
and cover your ears like you did the times
that I prayed in tears
Remember the few times
when I was able to smile
Ah (…)
when I walk
towards the distant valleys
I won’t blame any of you
for not understanding my demons
I’ll just let them remember
of the times I turned them into poetic songs
for their deaf ears!
Don’t worry about the tears
or the pains of my final act
Keep on praying
to their lying gods
Living their lives
empty and full of fortune
Keep going!
I beg you to continue!
in their ideological wars
Forget those like me who died
hugging their own legs
Forget me once and for all
while you remember
of the man I was never…
- Gerson De Rodrigues