Porto Sentido

Hello! Today we have Porto Sentido, which is a Portuguese poem by Carlos Tê. Since I couldn't find any professional translation, I have translated it myself.

He who comes and crosses the river

Along Serra do Pilar

Sees an old building

Which runs to the sea.

He who sees it from the bridge

Mistakes it for a cascata são-joanina

Over the hill,

Amid the fog,

Through narrow streets and sidewalks,

From Ribeira to the Foz,

Past dirty and worn stones

And sad and lonely lamps.

Its somber and seriousness

Of a rosto de cantaria

Hide the mistery

Of such dark and beautiful light.

Its dull brown

Its enclosed manners

Abandoned house 

That shatters a feeling...

And 'tis always the first time,

Each time of return

The same pride

Of a hurt Milhafre.

Translator's notes:

Porto sentido implies a double-meaning, since we have the verb sentir(to feel) and the noun sentido(meaning).

The river is the river Douro, which runs along Pilar Range.

Cascata São-Joanina is a kind of popular nativity art. It is usually built for Saint John festivities.

Milhafre is a pray bird typical of Portugal.