there is a war within himself and he escapes

hides in the solitude of deserted streets

dark thoughts create an abyss

between him and the world he searches but cannot find

love escapes him like a gazelle persecuted

by an implacable lion, there are no kisses to appease

his desires neither water to turn off his passion

the south wind sweeps his thoughts

which like dry leaves fly searching for freedom

freedom that only exists in the imagination

where coloured dolphins dance dressed up as angels

the mind hesitates and waits patiently

happy are those who believe in gods and fairies

he walks alone … his abode earth, his roof

the sky, persecuted sleeps and dreams

of a devil painted in green and with the taste of salt

Beatriz Copello is a former member of NSW Writers Centre Management Committee. She writes poetry, reviews, fiction and plays. Her latest poetry collection is Witches Women & Words (Ginninderra Press, 2022). Copello’s poetry has been published in literary journals such as Southerly, Australian Women’s Book Review and in many other print and online publications. She has read her poetry at events organised by the Sydney Writers Festival, the NSW Writers Centre, the Multicultural Arts Alliance, Refugee Week Committee, Humboldt University (US), Ubud Writers Festival and various events in Spain, Italy and Argentina. She has been included in the fifty ‘most notable’ people graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Translation by Beatriz Copello.