Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

António Osório

I Still Take Refuge

I still take refuge
in your honeysuckle, Father.
Over there, lush as ever,
is the passion flower.
The tall cedar, even taller.
The stove, the smudged
fingerprints on the doors.
The bougainvillea, which needs
to be pruned, I know. Mother
isn’t here and isn’t coming back.

AINDA ME ACOLHO

AINDA ME ACOLHO

Ainda me acolho, Pai,
à tua madressilva.
Ali tens a passiflora,
não envelheceu.
O cedro grande, maior ainda.
O forno, dedadas
expungidas pelas portas.
A buganvília, não esqueço,
é preciso cortá-la.
A Mãe não está nem volta.
Close

I Still Take Refuge

I still take refuge
in your honeysuckle, Father.
Over there, lush as ever,
is the passion flower.
The tall cedar, even taller.
The stove, the smudged
fingerprints on the doors.
The bougainvillea, which needs
to be pruned, I know. Mother
isn’t here and isn’t coming back.

I Still Take Refuge

I still take refuge
in your honeysuckle, Father.
Over there, lush as ever,
is the passion flower.
The tall cedar, even taller.
The stove, the smudged
fingerprints on the doors.
The bougainvillea, which needs
to be pruned, I know. Mother
isn’t here and isn’t coming back.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère