As part of the centennial commemoration, the Cátedra Natália Correia at PBBI-Fresno State is putting forth every single week through FILAMENTOS (arts and letters in the Azorean Diaspora) a poem, article, a brief piece from her memoirs or an excerpt from a play, in translation. Throughout the upcoming year of 2024, we will bring to fruition other events, publications, and research on Natália Correia.

This week, we have a poem.

Self-portrait

White throbbing shoulders:
Wings in the exile of a body.
The arms shimmering tracks
for the soul’s train.
And the emigrating eyes
in the ship of the eyelid
stranded in renunciation or cowardice.
Sometimes female. Sometimes nun.
Depending on the night. Depending on the day.
Mollusk. Sponge
soaked in a magic filter.
Golden spider
caught in the web of its schemes.
And at its feet a ceramic heart
broken in childish games.

Natália Correia

Translated by Diniz Borges