Iguassu's jumps

poem by Ruth Salles

Based on a text by Ariosto Espinheira, in Journey through Brazil.

Tarobá and Naipi
they loved each other with great love.
Tarobá was brave,
Naipi, beautiful as the flower.

Right on the edge of the Iguassu,
the two, happy, lived,
among the Caingangue Indians,
that the god Mboi worshiped.

God in the form of a serpent,
Mboi, son of Tupa,
wanted Naipi to serve you,
consecrated as a sister.

The river also ran
like a snake on the ground,
and the pajé was already preparing
the great consecration.

– Naipi! naipi! where are you
what does a flower look like?
Ai... ran away with Tarobá,
fled with his great love.

There they go downstream
in a passing canoe.
And Mboi became angry,
it was in the earth penetrating.

Split the earth inside,
and let go and let go
right under the river bed,
that falls into a cataract!

The light canoe fell…
Lovers are gone...
But the river held them,
forever transformed:

he, in a leafy tree,
she, on an overhanging rock,
both on the edge of the abyss
of the waters of the waterfall.

It's the Iguassu Jumps!
The kaingangue will call them,
contemplating the big fall:
– Look! Naipi-Tarobá!…

***