Poem
Carlos de Oliveira
Map
IThe poet
[the cartographer?]
gazes
at his
calligraphic islands
surrounded
by a tideless
sea,
an archipelago
bereft of
wind,
fauna, flora,
and the misty breath
of foam,
II
thinking
that
perhaps some
straying bird
will bring
to the solitude
of the map,
to the empty reefs,
a quiver,
a flight,
if it is possible
to fly
over such
aridity.
© Translation: 2004, Alexis Levitin
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: Guernica Editions, Toronto, 2004
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: Guernica Editions, Toronto, 2004
Mapa
Mapa
IO poeta
[o cartógrafo?]
observa
as suas
ilhas caligráficas
cercadas
por um mar
sem marés,
arquipélago
a que falta
vento,
fauna, flora,
e o hálito húmido
da espuma,
II
pensando
que talvez alguma ave errante
traga
à solidão
do mapa,
aos recifes desertos,
um frémito,
um voo,
se for possível
voar
sobre tanta
aridez.
© 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
Map
IThe poet
[the cartographer?]
gazes
at his
calligraphic islands
surrounded
by a tideless
sea,
an archipelago
bereft of
wind,
fauna, flora,
and the misty breath
of foam,
II
thinking
that
perhaps some
straying bird
will bring
to the solitude
of the map,
to the empty reefs,
a quiver,
a flight,
if it is possible
to fly
over such
aridity.
© 2004, Alexis Levitin
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
Map
IThe poet
[the cartographer?]
gazes
at his
calligraphic islands
surrounded
by a tideless
sea,
an archipelago
bereft of
wind,
fauna, flora,
and the misty breath
of foam,
II
thinking
that
perhaps some
straying bird
will bring
to the solitude
of the map,
to the empty reefs,
a quiver,
a flight,
if it is possible
to fly
over such
aridity.
© 2004, Alexis Levitin
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
From: Guernica and Other Poems
Publisher: 2004, Guernica Editions, Toronto
Sponsors
