A Cure for Life

[hack]

Where the sun soaked languid Taugus
melts into the sea
At the very spot Camoes smelled the salt
that set him free

My heart gains momentum
where the swells begin to rise
Lisbon laid before me
the only reason for these eyes

[PrinceMyshkin]

This poem SOARS! Each time I read it, that last line lifts my heart as if I were reading it for the first time...

[_Shannon_]

I seriously love this poem!

I have such an olfactory oriented memory, and respond so deeply to the experience of smelling the salt air as freedom.

[hillwalker]

DEfinitely one of your better ones, hack

[Bar22do]

Hack I'm afraid I'm dedicating this to myself, so much I love it!

and it inspired a reply:

At the Taugus River mouth
Camoes cried
he paid his freedom with exile

My heart with desire swells
for Lisboa’s breath
gently hissing, Luis, Luis


with congratulations, Your Kindness,

Bar

[Delta40]

what a lovely image you invoke in a few powerful lines.
salt....sea....freedom ahhh!

[hack]

Thank you all, Prince, Shannon, Hill, Bar, and Delta.
Bar, you know that this was for you. The title is from
the epitaph of Pero Moniz.

Camoes wrote:

"...I traveled distant lands and seas,
trying to find a cure for life,
but perilous ventures can't attain
what Fortune, finally, doesn't will..."

...peace...

[qimissung]

Very lyrical for a lowly hack in rattlesnake boots!

[lallison]

Great poem. I'm always a sucker for travel poetry, and I had to look up Camoes and Taugus, but it was worth the effort to be able to appreciate this more. I like the title a lot to. The only thing I might add is that I think punctuation would strengthen this piece as there is no real reason not to punctuate. uplifting and vivid! thanks.

[Hawkman]

Very nice hack, love it.

[Bar22do]

A Cure for Life
Where the sun soaked languid Taugus
melts into the sea
At the very spot Camoes smelled the salt
that set him free

My heart gains momentum
where the swells begin to rise
Lisbon laid before me
the only reason for these eyes



Bar, you know that this was for you. The title is from
the epitaph of Pero Moniz.

Camoes wrote:

"...I traveled distant lands and seas,
trying to find a cure for life,
but perilous ventures can't attain
what Fortune, finally, doesn't will..."

...peace...

Was it really? :aureola: thanks, hack...

Read in Portuguese, the epitaph has even more savour, let me read it to you aloud (just prick up your ears and you'll hear):

Corri terras e mares apartados,
buscando à vida algum remédio ou cura;
mas aquilo que, enfim, não quer ventura,
não o alcançam trabalhos arriscados.

What a daunting, mysterious, warm splendid language it is! ah.


Bar