A Fadista

Black dress tight
Long black hair
And black embroidered shawl
Walking up the avenue at night
Those who pass by judge her lost
A woman of vice and sin
And she's mistaken
Insulted and pursued
By the usual invitation

She enters the singing cafe
Followed in a provocative tone
By those who want to buy her
A guitar playing
A shadow slowly
Advances towards the middle of the room
She starts to sing
And those who wanted to buy her
Sit at the table watching her

Ancient and so profound song
That coming from the end of the world
Is prayer, lament, or chant
And all who listened
By candlelight seemed
Devout in prayer
And those who had just offended her
With closed eyes listened
As if asking for forgiveness

Black dress tight
Long black hair
And black shawl drawn
Singing to that table
She gives them the certainty
That she has already forgiven them
And in front of her at the table
Like in prayer to a goddess
In silence, the fado is heard