Victory of Guernica

I

High society of shacks

Of night and fields

II

Faces fit for the fire fit for background

For refusal for night for insults for blows

III

Faces fit for all

Thus the void fixed upon you

Your death will serve for example

IV

Death heart overturned

V

They’ve made you pay for bread

Sky earth water sleep

And wretchedness

With your life

VI

They said they wanted good intelligence

They reasoned the strong judged the mad

Gave alms divided a sou in two

Greeted the corpses

Showered themselves with politeness

VII

They persevere they exaggerate they are not of our world

VIII

Women children have the same treasure

Fresh Spring leaves and pure milk

And duration

In their pure eyes

IX

Women children have the same treasure

In the eyes

Men defend it as they may

X

Women children have the same red roses

In the eyes

Each shows blood

XI

Fear and courage to live and die

Death so hard so easy

XII

Men for whom this treasure was sung

Men for whom this treasure was wasted

XIII

Real men for whom despair

Feeds the devouring fire of hope

Let us open together the last flower of futurity

XIV

Pariahs death earth and the hideousness

Of our enemies have the color

Of our night monotonous

We shall get the better of them.

Paul Eluard