On sad days you don't mention birds Poem by Filipa Leal

On sad days you don't mention birds.
You ring up friends and they're out
and then on the street
you ask for a light as if asking
for a brand new heart.

On sad days it's winter
and you wander off in the cold, cigarette in hand,
burning away the wind and you say
- good morning!
to the passers-by
after they've passed by
and you failed to notice.

On sad days you talk to yourself
and there's always a bird sitting
at the top of things
instead of landing on your heart
and it doesn't speak to you


Translated by Ana Hudson, 2011