04. 11. 1941
Born in Nova Lisboa (Angola). Graduate in Law at Coimbra University. Holder of several official posts. Contributer to several publications. Poet, writer and essayist. National and international figure.
1
A wave
is to love you and fear
jealousy of this sea
tan-tan of my shipwreck
in a canoe of acacia
petal

2
A raft
you bring me made
of palm trunks
or of a slave ship
sunk
and within a shell
news

3
Loving you is this distance
and near the sea
feeling it travelled
blue and crashing

4
Loving you is a fire
on the wave
place for a field
of maize or manioc
in the sand running from me
under the spray

5
Loving you is this
with your forgiveness
not seizing the wave
and chewing its salt
I only know
already I have kissed
your beach

6
A wave
I think.
Another I notice.
The same I thought of
returning to the sea.

7
Why does the wave stay
            - the impossible
(they say there was no
sea
oars of sun
nor sunken ships).

A Onda
© Instituto Camões, 2001