If they reckon our labor union as a corpse (Axel Pinpin)

Dahil kaarawan ni Axel Pinpin at unang beses ko ata itong magsalin (o gumawa ng adaptasyon?) sa Ingles ng Filipinong akda, pagpasensyahan na ang burador. Bukas sa puna, as always. Matsala at happy 40th [?] birthday kay Axel. Magka-edad ata sila ng UPLB Perspective [nostalgia trip here], ang opisyal na pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng UPLB na kasalukuyang hindi ko maintindihan ang trip sa buhay dahil militante at progresibo naman ang tradisyon nito pero ewan, oops, off-topic, o, heto na ang salin.

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If They Reckon Our Labor Union as a Corpse

(For Gerry Cristobal)

by Axel Pinpin, Translated by Tilde Acuña

If the sweatshop is already a mausoleum

And the machine oils with blood

And the factories that were once abodes

for workers pay wails as wages

We head home early for the countryside

To lead our fellow toiling masses!

If the machine's noise is already a gunfire

And the only asset left is our strength

Of capitalizing that profit is used to hire

An unholy barracks of slaughter and brute force

We forge shears that cut through shackles

For us to break away from bondage!

If they reckon our labor union as a corpse

And presume that our flock is altogether forsaken

By the proletarian with no tears left for lament;

Ceaseless salute to hammers on banners,

Martyrs and inspirations are the working class heroes;

Sustain prominence until further victories!

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(Kapos pa rin ang kasalukuyang bokabularyo sa Filipino [Ang mahal kasi niyang UP Diksyunaryong Filipino], may ilang mga tula ni Pinpin na nais sanang isalin, kaso, hindi mabibigyang-hustisya, assuming, syempre, na nabigyan kong hustisya ang isang ito na pinamagatang "Kung Bangkay Na Nilang Ituring Ang Ating Unyon (Alay Kay Gerry Cristobal)" mula sa Tugmaang Matatabil : Mga Akdang Isinulat sa Libingan ng Mga Buhay.)

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