Hilda Hilst / Ten Calls to a Friend I / If I seem to you nocturnal and imperfect

Hilda Hils
Ten Calls to a Friend
Translated by Lavínia Saad

I

I / Se te pareço noturna e imperfeita

I / Si te parezco nocturna e imperfecta

If I seem to you nocturnal and imperfect
Look at me again. Because tonight
I looked at myself as if you were looking at me.
And it was as if water
Desired

To leave your house that is the river,
Just slipping by, not even touching the riverbank.

I looked at you. And it has been so long
That I understand that I am earth. It has been so long
That I wait
For your brotherly body of water
To stretch over mine. Pastor and naut

Look at me again. From a lesser height.
And more attentively.