Being a Poet

Being a poet is to be higher, to reign
Over others! It’s to bite as one would kiss!
It’s being a beggar but giving away no less
Than King of the Kingdom of both sides of Pain!

It is having a thousand wants to entertain
And not even knowing what you wish.
Or a star inside you can’t extinguish,
Having a vulture’s talons and vane.

It’s having hunger, a thirst for forever!
Helm of morning gold and satin...
The world distilled into a single clamor!

It’s to love you like that, maniacally...
It’s you as blood, as life, as soul within.
And to say it singing to everybody!

— Florbela Espanca

Translated by Martin Earl for