Lisboa

Lisbon was a breeze from Alfama and the sea,
sea like a spear of salt yet to dry.
Lisbon was the world, Lisbon was light
Lisbon was mine, Lisbon was you.

Lisbon was a port where I docked,
Lisbon was a dream inside the barracks
that your sweet lips knew how to break
Lisbon loved you, like I loved you.

Spreading kisses, I reached the end,
where words refuse to speak.
I poured another drink, and another one:
Lisbon was the gateway to eternity.

Lisbon demanded the best poem,
the tenderest gaze, flowers, the voice,
the youngest blood from my heart
Lisbon was time, Lisbon was me.

Lisbon of ships, turquoise and soot;
Lisbon and your chest, Lisbon and crimson.
Lisbon was a verse, Lisbon was the sun
Lisbon had no wound and cried.

Lisbon was rain, tobacco, and song;
Lisbon was like a tear of rum
that caught fire on the pillow at dawn.
Lisbon screamed when I said goodbye.

Lisbon screams at me ten years later,
the most bitter, harsher voice than yesterday.
Lisbon tells me that I abandoned you
and Lisbon loves you like I loved you.