Maria do Rosário Pedreira
HEAD, TORSO, AND LIMBS
The white shirt hanging on the clothesline
in the backyard is a cloud. Earlier,
when I went to hang it, it was still raining.
Now, with the wind billowing inside
of it, I suddenly see your torso
underneath. But if I stretch my arms
toward it, all I find is emptiness. Distressed,
I try to tell myself it’s only a
shirt; but, without meaning to, I go
back inside with the cloud in my head.
HOOFD, ROMP EN LEDEMATEN
Het witte overhemd aan de waslijn
in de tuin is een wolk. Toen ik het
daarnet ophing, regende het nog.
Nu bolt het in de harde wind
en zie ik ineens jouw romp erin
afgetekend. Maar als ik mijn armen
ernaar uitstrek, tast ik in leegte. Triest
probeer ik me aan te praten dat het
maar een overhemd is; maar ongewild
ga ik weg met de wolk in mijn hoofd.
CABEÇA, TRONCO E MEMBROS
A camisa branca estendida na corda
do quintal é uma nuvem. Há pouco,
quando a fui pendurar, ainda chovia.
Agora, que o vento sopra forte dentro
dela, vejo de repente o teu tronco a
vesti-la. Porém, se estendo os braços
para ele, só encontro o vazio. Triste,
tento dizer-me que é apenas uma
camisa; mas, sem querer, volto
para casa com a nuvem na cabeça.
From: O meu corpo humano
Publisher: Quetzal editores, Portugal
HEAD, TORSO, AND LIMBS
The white shirt hanging on the clothesline
in the backyard is a cloud. Earlier,
when I went to hang it, it was still raining.
Now, with the wind billowing inside
of it, I suddenly see your torso
underneath. But if I stretch my arms
toward it, all I find is emptiness. Distressed,
I try to tell myself it’s only a
shirt; but, without meaning to, I go
back inside with the cloud in my head.
From: O meu corpo humano
HEAD, TORSO, AND LIMBS
The white shirt hanging on the clothesline
in the backyard is a cloud. Earlier,
when I went to hang it, it was still raining.
Now, with the wind billowing inside
of it, I suddenly see your torso
underneath. But if I stretch my arms
toward it, all I find is emptiness. Distressed,
I try to tell myself it’s only a
shirt; but, without meaning to, I go
back inside with the cloud in my head.
Sponsors
