Nos Tempos de Menino

It was the path to the farm
And the purity of Maria
The green leaf in the bush
The rain when it fell
"Passarim" river stream
And nature smiled

It was the kiss I cherished
The life I truly wanted
The way I dreamed
Actually happened
I wanted a fruit, I planted it
It thrived, I ate the fruit

I wasn't afraid of death
I didn't know death
I had no secrets
Walking in the bush without a guide
It was never late or early
Midnight or noon

I was a boy more than seven
Or seventeen and a half leagues
I was a boy with energy
Boy with fire in my veins
Marbles, rascal
Boy with a sock ball

I was a boy at midnight
I was a boy at noon
Boy, whipping wind
I was the belly of revelry
Boy, thunder of the night
I was rain, I was winter

I was a boy gunslinger
Boy, arbor
I was a boy shoemaker
Boy, wheelbarrow
I was a boy bandit
Boy, lamp

Boy, I was also a boy
And time gave me its soul
Gave me bar thresholds
Gave me naked and raw life
Alleys and corners my homes
Street corner kid