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Ana Paula Tavares – 4 Poems in Translation
TERRACOTTA Ana Paula Tavares translated by paulo da costa published in World Literature Today 2009 Open the earth let me see myself in the mirror and find my place in emptiness among three hundred thousand terracotta virgins Open the earth, my friend this land woven of a thousand sand colours drifting from the north seeds of time where the older ones rest leaving to the feet the dance of hurrying life. (untitled) My beloved arrives and while he peels off the leather sandals his scent marks the territory of my room. He releases his hand in my body, sets off boats without destiny. He plants deciduous sap trees. He sleeps…
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José Tolentino Mendonça – Three poems in translation
José Tolentino Mendonça (n. 1965) is one of the most original voices of Portuguese contemporary literature. He is also an Archivist and Librarian at the Vatican Library. Freesias José Tolentino Mendonça translated by paulo da costa ( Published in Matrix n. 60 – 2001 ) Freesias are flowers smelling of tea and she, at thirty seven, prefers them to the flowers sold everywhere she conceded the beauty yet not the splendour because repetitions are sad suddenly become ways of knowing and she, at thirty-seven, simply held dear the secrets which though revealed remain secrets (in certain seasons, through some forgotten door she escaped, sleep-walking, into the courtyard leading to the woods…
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Al Berto – Four poems in translation
Al Berto was the pseudonym used by the Portuguese poet, painter, editor and cultural programmer Alberto Raposo Pidwell Tavares (January 11, 1948 – June 13, 1997). You were still young Al Berto translated by paulo da costa (Published in Matrix 60, 2000) i search for you amidst the written papers tossed to the bottom of the glass armoire you were eating grapes in the middle of the page next it was as if it were night there were exchanged glances bodies meanderings thorough the beach it was night and someone approached i run my fingers on the fresh wine stains on the table the notebook where once in a while…
