Podias ensinar à mão
outra arte,
essa de atravessar o vidro;

podias ensiná-la
a escavar a terra
em que sufocas sílaba a sílaba;

ou então a ser água,
onde de tanto olhá-las
as estrelas caíam.

///

You could teach your hand
other art,
that of crossing the glass;

you could teach her
to dig the earth
where you suffocate syllable by syllable;

or otherwise to be the water
where the stars from looking too long
fell down.

by Eugénio de ANDRADE (1923-2005), in "MATÉRIA SOLAR"

(English translated by Armando TABORDA, 2015)