Defensa de la alegría [English translation]

To defend joy as a trench

To defend it from scandal and routine

From misery and the miserable

From temporary leaves

And definitive ones

To defend joy as a principle

To defend it from wonders and nightmares

From neutrals and neutrons

From sweet infamies

And grave diagnosis

To defend joy as a flag

To defend it from lightning and melancholy

From naïves and rogues

From rethorics and heart attacks

From endemics and academies

To defend joy as a destiny

To defend it from fire and firemen

From suicidal and homicidal

From holidays and stress

From the duty of being joyful

To defend joy as a certainty

To defend it from rust and dirt

From the famed patina of time

From fog and opportunism

From the pimps of laughter

To defend joy as a right

To defend it from god and winter

From capital letters and death

From surnames and pity

From chance

And also from joy.

• Artist:Mario Benedetti