THE WALL

For us to build this wall,
bring me all the hands:
the black their hands black,
the white their hands white.
Aye,
A wall that stretches
from the beach to the mountain,
from the mountain to the beach,
there over the horizon.
—Knock, knock!
—Who’s there?
—A rose and a carnation
—Open the wall!
—Knock, knock!
—Who’s there?
—The colonel’s saber
—Close the wall!
—Knock, knock!
—Who’s there?
—The pigeon and the laurel
—Open the wall!
—Knock, knock!
—Who’s there?
—The scorpion and the centipede
—Close the wall!
To the heart of a friend,
open the wall;
To the poison and the dagger,
close the wall;
To the myrtle and mint,
open the wall;
To the snake’s teeth,
close the wall;
to the nightingale in the flower,
open the wall.
Let us raise a wall
putting together all the hands
the black, their hands black,
the white, their white hands.
A wall that stretches
from the beach to the mountain,
from the mountain to the beach,
there over the horizon.