ESTRANGEMENT

Estrangement

Because I move away far away
fly to foreign lands again and again

Because I wander every day inside strange markets
to pick collard greens and okra
cloth the color of rust and black
beans so blue they shine

Because I understand a bit of
every tongue spoken
in the dusky smoky places of my exiles

Because I fly from rooftops in moonlight
see colors and auras and rainbows
talk to plants and mosquitoes
mutter to myself in silence
when I walk city sidewalks

          and people turn around.

Because grandmother Saphronia
had her piano taken
and mother her words

Because of them most of all
because of me
the foreigner
the one who plays with words and antonyms

Because I must
I say yes
and I write.

Estranhamento

Porque viajo pra paises distantes

e me perco dentro dos mercados
na busca das couves e dos quiabos de
feijão preto brilhante que até vira azul

porque entendo palavra

de cada idioma sussurado
nas ruelas esfumaçadas de meus exílios
 
porque pouso de telhado a telhado  
no luar das auras e dos arco irises
falo com plantas e mosquitos
resmungo em silêncio
pelas calçadas populosas
as gentes prestando atenção

porque avozinha Saphronia

teve seu piano roubado

e a Mãezinha sua voz

porcausa delas

porcausa de mim
a estrangeira
que brinca de sinonimos e antonimos

porque preciso respirar

digo sim
e escrevo.