Long Fado Poems

A Warped Tree

Today, when not arguing with Walter the Jew
on Facebook or Twitter
 the ambiance in the house was surprisingly calm since I got a key to my study in peace to read my latest...

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On the way to Porto for a week's holiday, we drove through a pine forest a man planted forest the way each 
stood at a respectful distance from each other
A year later in high summer,...

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Morning Thoughts

Sunday morning, heavy mist clings to the building
the bay of Cascais is shrouded as a grief-striking widow 
inaudibly her sigh, but her eyes are still sea green 
Ten days ago, I made a prediction...

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Pope Frances 

It is a warm sunny day in Lisbon, the pope sits atop of 
Mercedes Jeep, he looks like an easy target for assassins
Men in black suits and open jackets hurry alongside the jeep
except...

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Sometimes writing poetry is my mistake,
Better to embark on a large cargo ship,
Which will take you to Tahiti or Honolulu,
Better give candy to a blue-eyed schoolgirl,

Sometimes writing poetry is my mistake,
Better to cook a chicken...

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Behind the Façade 

Behind the Holyday Inn near the bus station used by
we the masses and immigrants, there are streets of houses
kept in the gloomy mode of semi-poverty and cheap wine.
I walked these streets windows...

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How beautiful and discreet, this port, at night,
When you listen to fado, come that voice, Misia
It becomes deep and mysterious, sonorous,
Its numerous lights are warm as wool.

How enchanting this port, at night, o night
Between the...

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Antelope.

A springbok runs fast on the savanna avoiding
lions and other predators, but ultimately it is
destined to become food for slayers and thus
 useful. Going back two and a half million years, 
my African ancestors too...

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Twins

40 years ago I let go of the twin that lived inside of me
My twin was a nice person and feared upsetting anyone
hence he had no opinion relying on me being called
unpleasant names.
He was also...

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The Paratrooper

I was falling through the air couldn’t see a thing, opened up
my big black umbrella and descended in an orderly fashion.
A scythe of a moon gave enough light so I could see the coastline
and...

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The Mass
On Palm Sunday, she will go to church, not driven but walk on 
old feet that hurt for every step, I will sit at home, wait by 
the phone in case she cannot make...

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The Catering life

It is sunny and warm on the terrace.
I sit with my face facing the sun. It is supposed to be healthy
vitamin D, and so on.
I`m not so sure, I have had skin cancer...

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Weekend in Cascais
On Cascais glittering Saturday bay, slowly rides a rust stripped
bulk-carrier, sailors on the deck look at the town and think it
is Paradise, from the soot hallooed green stacks, whispering
smoke dissolves their dream of...

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Fado, she said

I sat in my study had tried to write a poem, failed, switched the TV, and a, “show ” female singers sang in English, trying to sound like some American singer, they had...

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Chicken and Fado

 They eat a lot of roasted chicken with chips
in Portugal, once it was a rare food now it is eaten
with gusto most days, it is cheap and filling.
What sets Portugal apart is...

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The wild beast

On the savanna runs the spring-bock not easy to catch by lions,
but as it gets older and slower, it loses out and becomes a meal
for the predators.
A million years ago my ancestors hunted...

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Flying high
 
I fall through the air so dense can´t see a thing
opened up my big, black umbrella
descended in an orderly fashion.
A scythe of a moon gave enough light I could see the coastline
the dark...

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like a wind that burns your chest
we did it again
we  did it the same
again
soul made from the mother's milk soul, hold me
cover me
wrap me in your clay
like a lost child weeping in the streets
without...

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