AVENTURA: VIETNAM
(Aos pais e mães que os perderam) -Alfred Lewis
Chegou a hora: beijou a mãe, a irmã
(Era ainda pequena) e disse ao pai
Que agora é que era o tempo de partir
Fazer o seu dever, voltar em breve
O mais breve possível, para completar
Os planos da sua vida.

Agora é que era o tempo: enquanto a juventude
Pensava nas proezas do passado
E a música das bandas, estridente
Arrepiava o manto azul dos montes.

E os aromas de casa
O som, as cores, o voar das aves
Tudo ficou atrás; ficou coberto
Da distância nebulosa do mar.

Membro da tropa nada lhe faltou:
Comida, farda, munições e armas.
Aprendeu a matar: soube ser fera.
Era a questão de vida contra vida,
Na lama ensanguentada da batalha.

Voltou a casa um dia: houve discurso
Ao pé da cova dele: um capitão ereto
Leu uma carta, apresentou medalhas
A família de luto; finalmente
O som duma trombeta anunciou
O fim da cena, e os melros invadiram
Uma vez mais o seu país de paz
que dá entrada a todos, novos, velhos
Seus planos do passado, as ilusões d’outrora.

-Los Baños, California
Março, 1971

ADVENTURE: VIETNAM
(To the parents who lost them)- Tr. by Diniz Borges

The time had come: he kissed her mother, his sister
(She was still little) and told his father
That now was the time to leave
To do his duty, to come back soon
As soon as possible, to complete
His life’s plans.

Now was the time: while his youth
Thought of the exploits of the past
And the music of the bands, blaring
Chilled the blue mantle of the hills.

And the scents of home
The sound, the colors, the flight of birds
Everything was left behind; it was covered
In the misty distance of the sea.
‘
He lacked nothing as a member of the troops:
Food, uniform, ammunition and weapons.
He learned to kill: he learned to be a beast.
It was a matter of life against life,
In the bloody mud of battle.

He came home one day: there were speeches
At the foot of his grave: an erect captain
Read a letter, presented medals,
The family mourned; finally
The sound of a trumpet announced
The end of the scene, and the blackbirds invaded
Once more his peaceful country
Which welcomes everyone, young and old
Their plans of the past, the illusions of bygone times.

• Los Baños, California
  March, 1971