LÊDO IVO

THE BRIDGE

So we could cross the river filled with stones
someone, with an ax, went up into the forest
and turned the living trees to planks and stakes.

The other side is just like this, in this divided land.
But we cross the bridge, and the shadow of someone
follows us, someone similar to us, who wanted to unite

what the water separates, flowing amongst its stones.

A PONTE

Para que pudéssemos atravessar o rio cheio de pedras
alguém, com um machado, subiu até a floresta
e mudou árvores vivas em pranchas e mourões.

O outro lado é igual a este, na terra dividida.
Mas atravessamos a ponte, e nos segue a sombra
de alguém, semelhante a nós, que pensava unir

o que as águas separam, correndo entre pedras.