The grain and the bread

by Elisabeth Klein

poems from the book “A Mãe-Terra, o Grão e o Pão” translated and recreated by Ruth Salles

Blackboard drawing by teacher Verônica Calandra Martins

.

1. FLOWER

the rain comes down
and it spills.
And the stem grows,
and the flower, and the grass.

the wind passes,
the flowers bloom.
already flutters
the pollen laurel.

how it twinkles
your golden tone
in the daylight
sunny!

two . THE SONG OF THE LARK

the lark
fly fast
calling the wind
with sweet voice.
everyone listens
the sound friend
that says to everything:
“The wheat blooms!”

twinkle and fly
the golden powder,
in the hands of the wind
being packed.
from here, from there,
I follow your path.
What comes and goes!
Wheat blooms!

singing is heard
of the lark
announcing
everything I saw.
In all world,
the old sound
always resounds:
“The wheat blooms!”

3 . THE WHEAT WAGON

In the wagon that rocks
let's go perched.
All the wheat is our bed,
the whole sky, our roof.

It's better – if not, we fly! –
to go very low;
but we sing, we chirp
just like the birds.

Looks like I'm on the farm,
lying down, head aloft,
and that this cart is the earth
traveling across the sky.

Pretty sure we are.
We're going home.
Hey, wagon, it's rolling!
The whole world is so beautiful!

4 . BREAD DOUGH

Will you knead without vigor?
You will not be a good baker.

Strength goes and strength comes?
Good dough that's how it is.

Move your arm and force your hand,
see your fingers how they go!

All the dough feels good
the strength that man has.

Hands to work this time,
silently and quickly.

And the dough is good
because God bless you.

5 . THE BUFFER

baker, baker,
are you going to make your bread?
Let your oven light up!
Put the bread in, remove the coals,
cover every hole,
so the heat doesn't leak out.

baker, baker,
close the door well!
What a perfume is already evolving!
Is it the shell or the core?
When you bake your bread,
don't forget my cake!

****