Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Luiza Neto Jorge

HOUSES

I

The houses came at night
In the morning they’re houses
At night they stretch their arms upward
and give off smoke all ready to depart

They close their eyes
they travel great distances
like clouds or ships

Houses flow at night
under the rivers’ tides

They are far more docile
than children
Closed up inside their plaster
they ponder

They try to speak very clearly
in the silence
with their voice of slanting rooftiles


II

She vowed to be a virgin all her life
She lowered the blinds over her eyes  
she fed on spiders
dampness
slanting rays of sunlight

When touched    she wanted to flee
if a door was opened
she concealed her sex

She caved in under a summer spasm
all wet from a masculine sun


V

Crazy as the house on the corner was
she took in people at any time of day

She was falling all apart and
just think of it invited whores
rats storks nests train whistles
drunks and pianos
as well as all the voices of wild animals

As Casas

As Casas

I

As casas vieram de noite
De manhã são casas
À noite estendem os braços para o alto
fumegam vão partir

Fecham os olhos
percorrem grandes distâncias
como nuvens ou navios

As casas fluem de noite
sob a maré dos rios

São altamente mais dóceis
que as crianças
Dentro do estuque se fecham
pensativas

Tentam falar bem claro
no silêncio
com sua voz de telhas inclinadas


II

Prometeu ser virgem toda a vida
Desceu persianas sobre os olhos
alimentou-se de aranhas
humidades
raios de sol oblíquos

Quando lhe tocam    quereria fugir
se abriam uma porta
escondia o sexo

Ruiu num espasmo de verão
molhada por um sol masculino


V

Louca como era a da esquina
recebia gente a qualquer hora

Caía em pedaços e
vejam lá convidava as rameiras
os ratos os ninhos de cegonha
apitos de comboio bêbados pianos
como todas as vozes de animais selvagens
Close

HOUSES

I

The houses came at night
In the morning they’re houses
At night they stretch their arms upward
and give off smoke all ready to depart

They close their eyes
they travel great distances
like clouds or ships

Houses flow at night
under the rivers’ tides

They are far more docile
than children
Closed up inside their plaster
they ponder

They try to speak very clearly
in the silence
with their voice of slanting rooftiles


II

She vowed to be a virgin all her life
She lowered the blinds over her eyes  
she fed on spiders
dampness
slanting rays of sunlight

When touched    she wanted to flee
if a door was opened
she concealed her sex

She caved in under a summer spasm
all wet from a masculine sun


V

Crazy as the house on the corner was
she took in people at any time of day

She was falling all apart and
just think of it invited whores
rats storks nests train whistles
drunks and pianos
as well as all the voices of wild animals

HOUSES

I

The houses came at night
In the morning they’re houses
At night they stretch their arms upward
and give off smoke all ready to depart

They close their eyes
they travel great distances
like clouds or ships

Houses flow at night
under the rivers’ tides

They are far more docile
than children
Closed up inside their plaster
they ponder

They try to speak very clearly
in the silence
with their voice of slanting rooftiles


II

She vowed to be a virgin all her life
She lowered the blinds over her eyes  
she fed on spiders
dampness
slanting rays of sunlight

When touched    she wanted to flee
if a door was opened
she concealed her sex

She caved in under a summer spasm
all wet from a masculine sun


V

Crazy as the house on the corner was
she took in people at any time of day

She was falling all apart and
just think of it invited whores
rats storks nests train whistles
drunks and pianos
as well as all the voices of wild animals
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère