The Barefoot Boys of 1999
This piece features the poem "The Barefoot Boys of 1999" by Brazilian author Victor Heringer, translated into English by James Young and Justin Greene. Published in Granta magazine, the work is a lyrical reflection on youth, rebellion, and memory set in the Inhaúma neighborhood. The narrative recalls a specific day dedicated to Cosmas and Damian, where a group of young boys founded the "Independent Youth of Inhaúma." Their activities involved drinking cachaça, eating cooking chocolate, and listening to the berimbau, an instrument associated with capoeira, although none of the boys actually practiced the martial art. A central image involves the boys throwing their laced shoes onto electrical wires, symbolizing a rejection of suburban norms and parental expectations. The poem contrasts the sweetness of the season with the bitterness of their drinks and the harshness of their parents' discipline. It evokes a sense of lost innocence and the transient nature of childhood camaraderie, describing the boys as "seagull pilots in the dust." The text serves as a cultural and literary artifact rather than a report on current events, highlighting themes of honor, identity, and the socio-cultural landscape of late 1990s Brazil.
Wire timeline
The Barefoot Boys of 1999
This piece features the poem "The Barefoot Boys of 1999" by Brazilian author Victor Heringer, translated into English by James Young and Justin Greene. Published in Granta magazine, the work is a lyrical reflection on youth, rebellion, and memory set in the Inhaúma neighborhood. The narrative recalls a specific day dedicated to Cosmas and Damian, where a group of young boys founded the "Independent Youth of Inhaúma." Their activities involved drinking cachaça, eating cooking chocolate, and listening to the berimbau, an instrument associated with capoeira, although none of the boys actually practiced the martial art. A central image involves the boys throwing their laced shoes onto electrical wires, symbolizing a rejection of suburban norms and parental expectations. The poem contrasts the sweetness of the season with the bitterness of their drinks and the harshness of their parents' discipline. It evokes a sense of lost innocence and the transient nature of childhood camaraderie, describing the boys as "seagull pilots in the dust." The text serves as a cultural and literary artifact rather than a report on current events, highlighting themes of honor, identity, and the socio-cultural landscape of late 1990s Brazil.
Granta