This is a poem of hurting and healing that I wrote some years ago. The original in Portuguese is at the bottom of the page.
Some descriptions are factual, but these are subjects of many other untold stories. For now, this is a perception of cyclic events repeated in major or minor scale through life.


CASTLE

Peopling misery
and transmuting loneliness into matter -
was not noble, the purpose
for inhabiting this inhospitable place?

Among burrows, webs and trails,
against the Light, the Law and the stars
we’ve crossed Life and Fate
and instigated them to the folly

And in the end, what was the point
down here
for us to set our own storms?

The storms of Heaven
washed the impure air,
and now comes the wind
through the rooms formerly darkened
and crumble our castles

So why reason and emotion fight,
and tearfully dispute
who will bring the most beautiful smile?

Why body and the soul rub,
between scheming and screaming strife,
for, in the end, recommence their tie?

*****************

CASTELO

Povoar a miséria
e transmutar a solidão em matéria –
não foi nobre, o propósito
de habitar esse lugar inóspito?

Entre tocas, teias e rastros,
contra a Luz, a Lei e os astros
nós cruzamos Vida e Destino,
e os instigamos ao desatino

E no fim, de que adiantou,
aqui embaixo,
armarmos nossas próprias tormentas?

As tempestades do céu
lavaram o ar impuro,
e agora o vento entra
pelos cômodos, antes escuros,
e desfazem nossos castelos

Então por que razão e emoção lutam,
e entre lágrimas disputam
quem fará o sorriso mais belo?

Por que corpo e a alma se atritam,
entre tramóias e contendas gritam,
para, no fim, reatarem seu elo?

(Photo: São Miguel das Missões, by Flavia Mariani at http://www.cidadederibeiraopreto.com.br/descritivo5602-turismo-os-patrimonios-da-humanidade-no-brasil.html)