Fernando Pessoa
THE CASTLES
Europe is lying propped upon her elbows:
From East to West she lies, starting
Out, reminiscent, - Greek eyes from the shelter
Of romantic hair.
Behind her back the left elbow is cast;
The right has the angle place.
That once says Italy in its repose;
This one says England where, gathered apart,
It holds the hand up to support the face.
She stares, her gaze doom-heavy, sphingical,
Out at the West, the future of the past.
The face with which she stares is Portugal.
O DOS CASTELOS
A Europa jaz, posta nos cotovelos:
De Oriente a Ocidente jaz, fitando,
E toldam-se romanticos cabelos
Olhos gregos, lembrando.
O cotovelo esquerdo recuado;
O direito em angulo disposto.
Aquele diz Italia onde pousado;
Este diz Inglaterra onde, afastado,
A mão sustenta, em que se apoia o rosto.
Fita, com olhar sphyngico e fatal,
O Ocidente, futuro do passado.
O rosto com que fita Portugal.