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TRIBUTE TO PAULO FREIRE
By Marcos Arruda
I salute you, courageous and
strong COMPANEIRO
For the life of dedication and wisdom
That you choose to live.
I cherish our long years of
close friendship,
consistent team work
and shared hope.
We, the peasants, the uprooted,
the oppressed workers of Brazil,
Latin America
and the whole world
salute you
and assure you that
your life for us had the power
and the presence
of a cedar, a baobaob. a neem tree.
We, the oppressors
are also grateful
for your courage to challenge us,
to awaken us to our real selves
and to the selves of others,
for your tender attention
that allowed you to see in us
the full human beings we can be,
and called for indignation
against oppression
and compassive energy
towards, the oppressors.
We salute you
who went Home before us
and taught us a wise path
towards our ultimate Home.
The path of the warrior
of Life and Love
The path of sharing,
The path with hands, will and brain
And, above all,
The path with a heart.