four poems by Ruth Salles
blackboard drawing by teacher Verônica Calandra Martins
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saints of june
- Saint John!
With your fur garment and a little lamb,
I see you, oh my patron saint
walking along the banks of the Jordan River
and I ask: Wash my heart in these waters!
I also see Saint Anthony, another Saint of June,
who comes with the torch of love in hand!
– I ask for a love for myself, Saint Anthony,
and, if possible, a good marriage…
There goes Saint Peter in his boat, rowing,
tireless fisherman casting nets.
- Saint Peter, fish my soul and deliver it from the raging sea
and take her in your boat, because I know you're going
in the happy and loose way
of love and peace!
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Saint John the Child
On here,
in the ancient night of drizzle and thin cold,
light balloons rose
in honor of Jesus' cousin,
Saint John the Boy.
and in our heart
each balloon,
rising fast and straight,
It was João Menino
becoming John the Prophet.
was the prophet
that looked like the light of dawn,
preceding the arrival
of the great rising Sun, of the greatest light:
the Christ Jesus.
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Saint John, my Saint John
- Saint John, my Saint John,
light a fire in my heart!
I want the heat in me
of the most patient and ardent love,
to unite in communion
to every sister, to every brother.
May the roasted potato feed
whoever is here!
That the sweets made from the fruits of the earth
convey the strength it contains!
That all the dances we are going to dance
spread our joy through the air!
May it rise to heaven, in the sparks of the fire,
our fire of love for the whole earth!
Hey, African jongo!
Hey, cateretê so Brazilian!
Hey, coconut, teaching
feverish work!
Hey, fandango dance,
and the cirandinha, sinhá,
and the gang, traveling
far to here!
With a melon wreath,
of carnation and rose and basil,
and one more twig of rue to protect me,
I wash myself in the pure river that I see flowing
in the hearts of everyone here.
And with the beliefs of garlic and firebrand
this plantation will be blessed
in which I sow and reap joy
on this feast of Saint John.
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Saint John's Songs
“The sky is so beautiful
and the night is so good…”
From the present window where I contemplate
so many beautiful nights,
I dream of diving into these backyards that I see,
of red flares.
“It is time for the bonfire,
It's Saint John's night..."
Tissue paper scissors, gum pan,
colors on the floor, and the little girls
it was just laughter and running slamming doors...
And the afternoon was all warm noises
calling the night...
“Jump the bonfire, Iaiá!
Jump over the fire Yo-yo!”
Ah, Saint John on some pole!
Suburb! Heaven closer!
Song blowing the bonfire loudly…
Bonfire crackling song into sparks…
“Be careful not to get burned!
Look, the bonfire has already burned my love!”
The next morning the little girl
tiredness slipped out of bed…
And I kept dreaming of the day before,
looking at the faded flags.
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