Flor de Outono
Guilherme de Sá
The Resilient Flower: A Tale of Seasons and Strength
In 'Flor de Outono,' Guilherme de Sá crafts a poignant narrative that delves into themes of resilience, change, and interdependence. The song opens with a declaration of self-worth, as the speaker asserts, 'Eu não sou flor que se deixe pra trás' (I am not a flower to be left behind). This sets the tone for a dialogue with the autumn season, personified as a neglectful entity that fails to nurture the speaker's leaves. The autumn, or 'outono,' symbolizes a period of decline or neglect, contrasting sharply with the nurturing warmth of summer, or 'verão de maio.' The speaker's disdain for the equinox, a time of balance between day and night, further emphasizes their preference for the vibrancy and life associated with summer.
The lyrics then shift to a more accusatory tone, questioning the autumn's lack of nurturing and its role in the speaker's decline. 'Onde está o perfume de sua seiva?' (Where is the scent of your sap?) highlights the absence of life and vitality that autumn brings. The imagery of autumn merely 'tinges the ground' while others slip on its fallen leaves underscores the season's passive destruction. The speaker refuses to take responsibility for this decline, stating, 'Eu sou o que de ti restou' (I am what is left of you), suggesting that they are merely a remnant of autumn's neglect.
The song concludes with a powerful metaphor of resilience and interdependence. The line 'Árvore que enverga, o vento não quebra' (A tree that bends does not break) speaks to the strength found in flexibility and endurance. The speaker acknowledges that without the challenges posed by autumn and winter, neither the flower nor the speaker would exist. The final lines, 'Deixo-te a minha folha seca / Para que compreendas / Que somente juntos / Voltamos fortes' (I leave you my dry leaf / So you understand / That only together / We return strong), encapsulate the song's message of unity and mutual strength. It is a reminder that even in times of decline, there is potential for renewal and growth through collective resilience.
