Em si mesmo
Em si mesmo
como espelhos, lagos
polaróides
com revelações instantâneas
feito um filme, fita
24 vezes p/ segundo
24 quadros
na câmara escura
sou 400 ASA voando
cem soluções à vista
In itself
In itself
like mirrors, lakes
polaroids
instant revelations
like a film looks
24 times per second
24 frames
in the dark room
I am 400 ISO flying
no solutions in sight
In itself
In itself
as mirrors, lakes
polaroids
with instant revelations
made a film, gazes
24 times p/ second
24 paintings
in the dark room
I am 400 ISO flying
One hundred solutions in sight
We had no solution, unfortunately, for the final line’s ‘cem’, meaning 100, which also sounds like ‘sem’, without.
400 ASA is ‘fast’ film, used in low-light conditions; now called ISO.
Sarah Maguire, Workshop Facilitator
Notes on the literal translation:
dual meaning – revelação = develop or revelation
wordplay – cem=100 or sem = without
Francisco Vilhena, Literal Translator