BASQUE POETRY: MY FATHER'S HOUSE

MY FATHER’S HOUSE(NIRE AITAREN ETXEA)Gabriel Aresti, 1963

I shall defend    

The house of my father.

Against wolves,

Against drought,

Against usury,

Against the Justice,

I shall defend

The house

of my father.

I shall lose

cattle,

orchards,

and pinewoods;

I shall lose

Interests,

Income,

And dividends,

But I shall defend the house of my father.

They will take away my weapons

And with my hands I shall defend

The house of my father;

They will cut off my hands

And with my arms I shall defend

The house of my father;

They will leave me

Without arms,

Without shoulders,

And without breasts,

And with my soul I shall defend

The house of my father.

I shall die,

My soul will be lost,

My descendence will be lost,

But the house of my father

Will remain

Standing.

(Translation: Toni Strubell)

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