Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Carlos de Oliveira

Filling Station

        I place my leisurely hand on the hoods of these cars like someone stroking the
mane of a horse. They come in dying of thirst. I imagine that they’ve been lost in the
desert and that their destiny is just to be in a rush. In this job I listen to the sound of
the gears, the subtle movement of the world accelerating bit by bit. Who am I,
meanwhile, what scale do I have for weighing without error my life and the dreams
of those who are passing by?

Posto de gasolina

Posto de gasolina

        Poiso a mão vagarosa no capô dos carros como se afagasse a crina dum
cavalo. Vêm mortos de sede. Julgo que se perderam no deserto e o seu destino é
apenas terem pressa. Neste emprego, ouço o ruído da engrenagem, o suave
movimento do mundo a acelerar-se pouco a pouco. Quem sou eu, no entanto, que
balança tenho para pesar sem erro a minha vida e os sonhos de quem
passa?
Close

Filling Station

        I place my leisurely hand on the hoods of these cars like someone stroking the
mane of a horse. They come in dying of thirst. I imagine that they’ve been lost in the
desert and that their destiny is just to be in a rush. In this job I listen to the sound of
the gears, the subtle movement of the world accelerating bit by bit. Who am I,
meanwhile, what scale do I have for weighing without error my life and the dreams
of those who are passing by?

Filling Station

        I place my leisurely hand on the hoods of these cars like someone stroking the
mane of a horse. They come in dying of thirst. I imagine that they’ve been lost in the
desert and that their destiny is just to be in a rush. In this job I listen to the sound of
the gears, the subtle movement of the world accelerating bit by bit. Who am I,
meanwhile, what scale do I have for weighing without error my life and the dreams
of those who are passing by?
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