Poem
Carlos de Oliveira
Filling Station
I place my leisurely hand on the hoods of these cars like someone stroking themane 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?
© Translation: 2004, Alexis Levitin
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: Guernica Editions, Toronto, 2004
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: Guernica Editions, Toronto, 2004
Posto de gasolina
Posto de gasolina
Poiso a mão vagarosa no capô dos carros como se afagasse a crina dumcavalo. 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?
© 1968, Carlos de Oliveira
From: Trabalho Poético
Publisher: Assírio & Alvim, Lisboa
From: Trabalho Poético
Publisher: Assírio & Alvim, Lisboa
Poems
Poems of Carlos de Oliveira
Close
Filling Station
I place my leisurely hand on the hoods of these cars like someone stroking themane 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?
© 2004, Alexis Levitin
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
Filling Station
I place my leisurely hand on the hoods of these cars like someone stroking themane 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?
© 2004, Alexis Levitin
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère