743 | Ostinato – Eugénio de Andrade, Portugal

Sculpture by Marie-Paule Deville Chabrolle, France

Ostinato *

To the desire,
to the sharp shadow
of desire,
I surrender.

My branch of coral,
my sandy beach,
my golden boat,
I surrender.

My stone of dew,
my love,
my dagger,
I surrender.

My burnt out
violated moon,
—take me, take me—
I surrender.

Eugenio de Andrade, Portugal (1923 –2005)

Translation Germain Droogenbroodt

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* The word ostinato is Italian and means obstinate.
It is used in music, when a theme is repeated.

Ostinato //Ao desejo, /à sombra aguda/do desejo, /eu me abandono. // Meu ramo de coral, /meu areal, /meu barco de oiro, /eu me abandono. // Minha pedra de orvalho, /meu amor, /meu punhal, /eu me abandono. / Minha lua queimada, /violada, /colhe-me, recolhe-me: eu me abandono.