Francisco Borja da Costa

Francisco Borja da Costa
Born(1946-10-14)October 14, 1946
DiedDecember 8, 1975(1975-12-08) (aged 29)
Cause of deathInvasion by Indonesia
NationalityEast Timorese
OccupationPoet
Notable work"Pátria" and "Um Minuto de Silêncio"

Francisco Borja da Costa (October 14, 1946 – December 8, 1975)[1] was an East Timorese poet and the writer of "Pátria", the national anthem of East Timor.

Career

[edit]

Born in October 1946,[2][3] he wrote the majority of his work in Tetum. Borja da Costa was executed by Indonesian forces on December 8, 1975, the day after the beginning of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.[1] The national anthem's composer, Afonso Redentor Araujo, was also executed by the Indonesians 4 years later. Aside from the East Timorese national anthem, his most famous known work may be the poem "Um Minuto de Silêncio" (English: "A Minute of Silence").[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Fernandes, Clinton (2007). "East Timor: Balibo Inquiry". UNSW Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  2. ^ "Literatura do Francisco Borja da Costa". 14 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Trove".
  4. ^ Borja da Costa, Francisco. UM MINUTO DE SILÊNCIO. Calai
    Montes
    Vales e fontes
    Regatos e ribeiros
    Pedras dos caminhos
    E ervas do chão,
    Calai
    Calai
    Pássaros do ar
    E ondas do mar
    Ventos que sopram
    Nas praias que sobram
    De terras de ninguém,
    Calai
    Calai
    Canas e bambus
    Árvores e "ai-rús"
    Palmeiras e capim
    Na verdura sem fim
    Do pequeno Timor,
    Calai
    Calai
    Calai-vos e calemo-nos
    POR UM MINUTO
    É tempo de silêncio
    No silêncio do tempo
    Ao tempo de vida
    Dos que perderam a vida
    Pátria
    Nação
    Pelo Povo
    Nossa
    Libertação
    Calai - um minuto de silêncio...
[edit]