Me gustan los estudiantes [English translation]

Long live the students,

garden of all happiness

The birds who are not frightened

by animal or policeman,

and are not afraid of bullets

or the baying of the hounds.

Well just celebrate the thing,

long live astronomy.

I love the students

who roar like the winds

when their ears are bent

by priests or generals.

libertarian birds,

as free as are the elements.

Well just celebrate the thing:

long live experiments.

I love the students

because they do not take it lying down

when they are told it is flour

and they know it is bran,

and do not pretend to be deaf and dumb

when they understand what is going on.

Well just celebrate the thing:

The Code of Rights.

I love the students

because they are yeast

for the bread which comes from the oven

with all its flavour,

for the mouth of the poor

who eat it bitterly.

Well just celebrate the thing:

long live literature.

I love the students

who march over the ruins.

With their banners held high

go all the dancing students:

they are chemists and doctors,

surgeons and dentists.

Well just celebrate the thing:

long live the specialists.

I love the students

who go to the laboratory,

to discover what is concealed

within the confessional.

Already they have a large cartload

which came all the way from Purgatory

Well just celebrate the thing:

the academic books.

I love the students

who with clear eloquence

from the sacred black bag

tip out the indulgences.

For, how long will it last

gentlemen, this penance?

Well just celebrate the thing:

long live all the sciences.

• Artist:Violeta Parra