Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

António Ramos Rosa

I can’t put love off for another century

I can’t put love off for another century
I can’t
although the cry is strangled in my throat
although hatred bursts, crackles, burns
beneath grizzled mountains
and grizzled mountains

I can’t put off this embrace
this two-edged sword
of love and hate

I can’t put off
although the night weighs centuries on my back
and indecisive daybreak still delays
I can’t put off my life for another century
nor my love
nor my cry of liberation

I can’t keep putting off my heart

I can’t put love off for another century

Não posso adiar o amor para outro século
não posso
ainda que o grito sufoque na garganta
ainda que o ódio estale e crepite e arda
sob montanhas cinzentas
e montanhas cinzentas

Não posso adiar este abraço
que é uma arma de dois gumes
amor e ódio

Não posso adiar
ainda que a noite pese séculos sobre as costas
e a aurora indecisa demore
não posso adiar para outro século a minha vida
nem o meu amor
nem o meu grito de libertação

Não posso adiar o coração
Close

I can’t put love off for another century

I can’t put love off for another century
I can’t
although the cry is strangled in my throat
although hatred bursts, crackles, burns
beneath grizzled mountains
and grizzled mountains

I can’t put off this embrace
this two-edged sword
of love and hate

I can’t put off
although the night weighs centuries on my back
and indecisive daybreak still delays
I can’t put off my life for another century
nor my love
nor my cry of liberation

I can’t keep putting off my heart

I can’t put love off for another century

I can’t put love off for another century
I can’t
although the cry is strangled in my throat
although hatred bursts, crackles, burns
beneath grizzled mountains
and grizzled mountains

I can’t put off this embrace
this two-edged sword
of love and hate

I can’t put off
although the night weighs centuries on my back
and indecisive daybreak still delays
I can’t put off my life for another century
nor my love
nor my cry of liberation

I can’t keep putting off my heart
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère