POEMS FROM THE PORTUGUESE

POEMA DE ANA LUÍSA AMARAL

Etimologias

Sei o teu carro de cor:
a forma leve dos bancos,
a angústia de cada vidro,
a cor de cada junção
Sei de cor a tua mão
atravessada por dentro
do carro que sei de cor:
cada traço repetido
em impressão digital,
a forma de cada dedo
por dentro da tua mão
A sintaxe repetida
do carro que sei de cor
(etimologicamente:
por dentro do coração)

in Inversos, poesia 1990-2010, 2010

Etymologies

I know your car by heart:
the light shape of the seats,
the anguish of each of its windows,
the colour of all its trimmings
I know your hand by heart
cutting through the inside
of the car I know by heart:
each stroke re-enacted
in a digital imprint,
the shape of each of your fingers
on the inside of your hand
The syntax learnt by rote
of the car I know by heart
(etymologically:
from the depths of one’s heart)

© Translated by Ana Hudson, 2012
in Poems from the Portuguese