the big snake

poem by Ruth Salles

– Amazon River, sliding,
tell me stories, come and cheer me up!

“Do you not see two eyes as beacons
and a terrible rumor afterwards?
It's the big snake! go for a ride
spend the night there at the potion.

She sails to the Purus,
in brown and blue waters.
Ai… At the rubber tappers' party
there were such sorcerous eyes...

What a beautiful lady! everyone looked
so curious that they scared her.
She hid inside the house.
You will find her eyes on fire!

It was the snake all coiled up!
There is nothing left of the beautiful girl.
It's the big snake! It's the haunted!
She wanted to come to the party, she came delighted!”

***