Domingo Fonseca, born in Piaui Brazil, in 1913, was a travelling singer and a favourite among the bohemian circles of the Northeast. Disliked in his hometown (Teresina), he moved to Fortaleza, where he closed his eyes to life, the victim of a fall in Rua Senador Pompeu. Domingos Fonseca is ranked among the greatest singers of the Northeast, standing out for the breadth of his biblical and philosophical knowledge. A singer of immense resources, he amazed those who heard his singing among the north eastern guitarists of recent times. When he died in 1958, he was between 45 and 50 years old.

The poem below has been translated by Stephen Basdeo and was written some time in the 1940s in the north eastern (Nordeste) region of Brazil and laments the differences of wealth and poverty in the country.

One more Christmas thus passes … and the poor

With empty hands continue to cry

Three hundred and sixty-five days and six hours

Of dreams and uncertainty!

Thus rises one more Christmas … A new sadness

For those who suffer. New delicacies,

From the harp new vibrating melodies

Around the banquets of the rich.

O Boy Jesus! Holy Ghost!

Thou whomst, for thy three and thirty years of living

Among us men, suffered so much.

Pray to God—the supreme divinity,

To give us at least patience,

Since he made humanity unequal.

This translation is taken from the text presented in the following anthology:

Oswaldo de Souza Valle, ed. Antologia de Grandes Poetas Norte-Brasileiros (Rio de Janeiro: Livraria Jangada Editora, 1970)