Hilda Hilst: Poems for the Men of Our Time (II)

Beloved life, my death takes its time.
What shall I tell my man,
What trip shall I propose? Kings, ministers
And all of you politicians,
What word beside gold and shadow
Stays in your ears?
Beside your capacity
What do you know
Of men’s souls?
Gold, conquest, profit, success
And our bones
And our people’s blood
And men’s lives
Between your teeth.


Amada vida, minha morte demora.
Dizer que coisa ao homem,
Propor que viagem? Reis, ministros
E todos vós, políticos,
Que palavra além de ouro e treva
Fica em vossos ouvidos?
Além de vossa capacidade
O que sabeis
Da alma dos homens?
Ouro, conquista, lucro, logro
E os nossos ossos
E o sangue das gentes
E a vida dos homens
Entre os vossos dentes.