Lampião's Band

 

Lampiāos Band

They fought against and incredibly corrupt Brazilian government. His right-hand man was known as the Blond Devil, and his woman, Maria Bonitas (Maria the Beautiful).
The relationship of Maria Bonita and Lampião is firmly rooted in Brazilian folk history, much like the ‘romance and violence’ fame that Bonie & Clyde achieved in the USA. The story of Lampião and Maria Bonita, has been the subject of innumerable Brazilian folk stories, books, comic books, songs, movies, and TV shows, with all the elements of drama, passion, and violence typical of “Wild West” stories.

 

At the youtube site below Maria’s photo you can find the popular Brazilian song “Acorda Maria Bonita” celebrating the cangaceira (outlaws).

 

Maria Bonita
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxPu6A0A1WQ

On July 28, 1938, Lampião’s band was betrayed by one of his supporters and ambushed in one of his hideouts by a police troop armed with machine guns. In a quick battle, Lampião, Maria Bonita and 9 of his troops were killed, though some 40 others escaped. The heads of the dead bandits were cut off and sent to Salvador, the capital of Bahia, for examination by specialists at the State Forensic Institute, and later, for public exhibition. In 1969 were the families of Lampião and Maria Bonita were finally able to reclaim the preserved heads to finally bury them.

 Joan Biaz- O`Cangaciero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kREq2Yne_BE

Lampião’s Band
Bruce Louis Dodson

Who were the last that stood?
Lampião’s Band.
How would you die?
In bed?
Or with the Blond Devil and Maria Bonita
making your play on some hot hill
amidst the smell of cordite, oil, and old rifles
without fear of death.

Where does the battle end?
Not any time or place you dare to make a stand.

Brazil - Same As It Ever Was

1991

Postcard From Rio De Janeiro
MAGIC

Bruce Louis Dodson 1985

Dusty candles stuck in cola bottlenecks along the curb sides
Flicker nervously against the evening traffic
Sea breeze flavored with the scent of ethanol exhaust and lipstick
Humble altars set by fire plugs, stop signs . . . tree trunks.
Cigarettes are left
A bit of candy
Shiny coins—still new
Unspendable
Made worthless by spectacular inflation . . . time and place
Small offerings to spirit gods displaced by fire and greed
Their forests gone forever
Forced to live upon the streets of Rio de Janeiro
With their people
Sleeping on the sidewalks
Homeless . . . petty thieves and whores
These ancient spirit gods are angry
Will they will have revenge?

Article Below Is From: The Guardian 16 April 2014

Postcard From Brazil

Yemanja

Bruce Louis Dodson

Evening in Buzios

Warm sea breeze comes ashore

Caressing . . . sultry breath of oceans
 Fishing boats rock gently

Flashlights blinking from on board

As crews make ready for the coming day.

They call the sea Yemanja here

She is alive

A personality with changing moods that beckon those on land

With siren’s playfulness . . . evocative

The promise of adventure

Whispered in the sound of crashing waves:

           Do not forsake me

           There is no good reason for a man to leave the sea

           I’m everything you want

           Your greatest love

           Both life and death

           All things between.

Her implorations spill from arms that want to hold

Forever

Cool wet shadow slipping through the sand

Returning to drowned lovers.