Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Rui Pires Cabral

THIS WAY OUT

But is there a way out? Imagine
in insomnia the forests that grow
at such hours in other regions, the trains
that cross them to reach a destination
in the future of others.

Is there a way out? Imagine
night filled with violent cities,
the rumbling of engines in the subways
and rain falling on the black plastic
of strawberry fields, all the suffering
and uncertainty of the world.

And in the morning, look, it’s a beautiful
day. Your friends are getting up in the other room,
they’re heading down to the kitchen to make coffee.

But is there a way out?

THIS WAY OUT

THIS WAY OUT

Mas há uma saída? Imagina
na insónia as florestas que crescem
a essas horas noutras regiões, os comboios
que as atravessam para alcançar um destino
no futuro dos outros.

Há uma saída? Imagina
a noite cheia de cidades violentas,
o retumbar das máquinas nos subterrâneos
e a chuva a cair no plástico negro
dos morangais, todo o sofrimento
e incerteza do mundo.

E de manhã, repara, está bonito
o tempo. Os amigos acordam no quarto ao lado,
descem à cozinha para fazer o café.

Mas há uma saída?
Close

THIS WAY OUT

But is there a way out? Imagine
in insomnia the forests that grow
at such hours in other regions, the trains
that cross them to reach a destination
in the future of others.

Is there a way out? Imagine
night filled with violent cities,
the rumbling of engines in the subways
and rain falling on the black plastic
of strawberry fields, all the suffering
and uncertainty of the world.

And in the morning, look, it’s a beautiful
day. Your friends are getting up in the other room,
they’re heading down to the kitchen to make coffee.

But is there a way out?

THIS WAY OUT

But is there a way out? Imagine
in insomnia the forests that grow
at such hours in other regions, the trains
that cross them to reach a destination
in the future of others.

Is there a way out? Imagine
night filled with violent cities,
the rumbling of engines in the subways
and rain falling on the black plastic
of strawberry fields, all the suffering
and uncertainty of the world.

And in the morning, look, it’s a beautiful
day. Your friends are getting up in the other room,
they’re heading down to the kitchen to make coffee.

But is there a way out?
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