The Caipora

poem and music by Ruth Salles

– I had to go out at night.
There…
at night comes the caipora!

Little black boy with his staff,
smoking pito in the dark.
Come surrounded by caititu…
How afraid I am! What a hoot!

“Mece give me your tobacco!
Mecê give me your smoke,
give me your smoke not to stay
encaged in the greatest misfortune!”

– I had to go out at night.
There…
At night comes the caipora!

***