If this is a man - Primo Levi
You who live safe
in your warm houses,
you who are returning in the evening
hot food and friendly faces:
in your warm houses,
you who are returning in the evening
hot food and friendly faces:
Consider if this is a man
who works in the mud
who knows no peace
struggling for a crust of bread
who dies for a yes or a no.
who works in the mud
who knows no peace
struggling for a crust of bread
who dies for a yes or a no.
Consider whether this is a woman,
without hair and without name
no more strength to remember
empty eyes and cold womb
like a frog in winter.
without hair and without name
no more strength to remember
empty eyes and cold womb
like a frog in winter.
Meditate that this was:
I command these words.
I command these words.
Carve them in your heart
staying at home for going on,
lying down, getting up.
staying at home for going on,
lying down, getting up.
Repeat them to your children.
Or may sfaccia the house,
illness impede you,
born twists your face from you.
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