away from you




Florbela Espanca (1894-1930) is unmatched in the intensity of her love poems. Fernando Pessoa's much celebrated poetry seems shallow in comparison with the eloquent images of her pulsating verses.

I here offer a new translation of her magnificent sonnet “Fumo.”


Smoke

Away from you, the paths are deserted,
Away from you, no moonlight, no roses;
Away from you, only silent nights,
Days without heat and eaves without nests!

My eyes, two poor old folks
Lost throughout wintry nights...
Of caressing hands dreaming,
Your sweet hands of tenderness!

The days are autumn: weeping... weeping...
With purple chrysanthemums fading
And murmurs of secrets so painful...

I now invoke our dream, my hands stretched out!
Oh, take it, my love, before it's all gone
Like light smoke escaping through my fingers...

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