Pupila literally translates to "pupil" of the eye. While it might seem like a common word, its use in this song is particularly evocative and poetic.
Silvio Rodriguez uses it to describe the "absorta pupila de lo eterno" (the absorbed pupil of the eternal), giving the image of someone gazing intently and deeply into something timeless and profound. This metaphorical use elevates the word beyond its literal meaning, making it memorable and intriguing.
Silvio Rodriguez dedicates "El Tiempo Está A Favor De Los Pequeños" to the heroic people of El Salvador and to his dear brother, martyr, and poet of the Latin American revolution, Roque Dalton. This song is a powerful anthem of hope and resilience, declaring that "El tiempo está a favor de los pequeños" [Time is in favor of the small ones], the forgotten, and the dreamers. It speaks of courage transforming into a "sol violento" [violent sun], embarking on a clear journey.
The lyrics describe the night and darkness as companions, preparing the "duro esqueleto" [hard skeleton] that will be born from the new dawn. Shadows on the streets are accomplices of the day, and joy is burning through the hills and valleys. Roque Dalton and others are attentive, giving "voces de amor a cuatro vientos" [voices of love to the four winds] and hurrying the ruins of hell. El Salvador overflows the world's peaks, rising colossally and embroidering with a thousand stars, referencing Farabundo Martí, a revolutionary leader. It's a beautiful and defiant song about the power of the people and the inevitability of change.