José Tolentino Mendonça

1965 / Machico, Madeira

The White Road

I walked with you through the exact afternoon
you gave me your hand, life seemed
hard to establish
above the high wall

leaves trembled
under the stronger invisible weight

I could die for just one of those things
we share and have no words for saying:
stars cross paths at a frightful speed
unmovable glaciers at long last shift
and in the only way it can accompany you
my heart beats and beats

Translation: 2006, Richard Zenith
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