Tonala Besieged

O my son, there is no water now at all,

And our gracious city is left without a light.

Go thou and buy a candle, a paraffin-white candle,

To keep against the coming of the night.

O my son, there is no water now at all.

The-rebel storms outside the city gate.

Go thou and pluck the oranges, the honey-golden oranges,

That we may not be thirsty while we wait.

O my son, there is no water now at all.

Thy sister is too beautiful, my son.

Go thou and bring the scissors, the sharp-edge, blue-steel

scissors,

To cut her hair, of night and sorrow spun.

The bombing-planes are gone; the streets are clean.

Water we have, and light. The siege is done.

Go thou and make a coffin. Paint blue a cheap pine coffin.

Thy sister was too beautiful, my son.