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| Illustration of the Bava Beccaris Massacre for Le Petit Journal, 22 May 1898 |
Pane!
Don Giovanni Gentile, alias Chiacchiara
Mentre l’uomini povari e dijuni
Vaû ppe’ le vie gridannu: «Pane! Pane!…»
Lu Guvernu ce manna battagliuni
E li tratta cchijù pieju de ‘nu cane.
Sparanu sti surdati a li truppuni
E faû ‘na chianca de le carne umane,
Ammazzanu le mamme e li guagliuni:
Ma “Pane!” torna si grida dumane.
Cari Ministri latri e sprigugnati,
Dintra la crozza cchi cosa ci aviti?
Ccu paddre nun si saziû l’affamati…
Vui stati franchi, mangiati e viviti?
Ma si pue ni vidimu disperati,
Vi facimu la peddra a quantu siti.
Bread!
Translated by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia
While poor and starving men
Go through the streets shouting: «Bread! Bread!…»
The Government sends them battalions
And treats them worse than dogs.
These soldiers shoot at the crowds
And make a butchery of human flesh,
They kill mothers and children:
But “Bread!” they continue to shout tomorrow.
Dear shameless thieving Ministers,
What have you got in your noggins?
You don’t satisfy the hungry with bullets…
You’re all set, you eat and drink?
But if then we find ourselves desperate,
We’ll get you all as many as you are.
