The Pipe His Only Earthly Love

An excerpt from Brazilian poet Lúcio de Mendonça. Translation, as is customary on this site, my own.

E ele, olhando como um velho mestre
O revoltoso que não dorme nunca,
Recurva o dedo como garra adunca,
Sobre o cachimbo, único amor terrestre...


And he, looking like an old master
At the rebel who never sleeps,
Curls his finger like a curved claw
About the pipe, his only earthly love...

You can find the entire poem here.

Comments