Long enough and just so long

as freedom is a breakfastfood
or truth can live with right and wrong
or molehills are from mountains made
—long enough and just so long
will being pay the rent of seem
and genius please the talentgang
and water most encourage flame

as hatracks into peachtrees grow
or hopes dance best on bald men’s hair
and every finger is a toe
and any courage is a fear
—long enough and just so long
will the impure think all things pure
and hornets wail by children stung

or as the seeing are the blind
and robins never welcome spring
nor flatfolk prove their world is round
nor dingsters die at break of dong
and common’s rare and millstones float
—long enough and just so long
tomorrow will not be too late

worms are the words but joy’s the voice
down shall go which and up come who
breasts will be breasts thighs will be thighs
deeds cannot dream what dreams can do
—time is a tree(this life one leaf)
but love is the sky and i am for you
just so long and long enough


E.E. Cummings

Invisíveis sombras

Invisíveis sombras entre nós
a casa das coisas.
Invisíveis como a nossa
visível obstinação.
Um pouco de luz nos faz pender
para um dos lados.
Uma luz que não sabemos.

Uma luz que invisíveis sombras
lança
entre nós a casa as coisas
e nos faz pender para um lado
um dos lados
o lado que não sabemos
dessa luz que nos conhece.


Pedro Mexia, Senhor Fantasma (Asa, 2007).

although this nostalgia explains many of my errors and my faults

I have never been able to renounce the light, the pleasure of being, and the freedom in which I grew up. But although this nostalgia explains many of my errors and my faults, it has doubtless helped me toward a better understanding of my craft. It is helping me still to support unquestioningly all those silent men who sustain the life made for them in the world only through memory of the return of brief and free happiness.