They seem birds without tweet in a cage
under sun
they don't disturb us cause they sleep most time
old men are too many
now and then a death rattle
shakes them
a permanent dribble flows off
their mouths
astonished they open the eyes
and say
you are becoming just like us.

///

Parecem pássaros sem pio na gaiola
ao sol
não nos incomodam porque dormem quase sempre
são muitos os velhos
de quando em vez um estertor
sacode-os
uma baba permanente escorre-lhes
das bocas
espantados abrem os olhos
e dizem
estás a ficar igual a nós.

by Armando TABORDA, 2013

(1st edition, 2015; 2nd edition, 2017)