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On Beginnings

By Filinto Elísio

Translated from Portuguese by Jethro Soutar

Filinto Elísio meditates on the border between existence and nonexistence in this short poem.

May 11, 2020

Published in The Center of the World: Writing from Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde Identity

Original Language

A cry, at birth,
and, then, only silence.
Inert stone, atomic,
nuclear before life.

© Filinto Elísio. Translation © 2020 by Jethro Soutar. All rights reserved.

A cry, at birth,
and, then, only silence.
Inert stone, atomic,
nuclear before life.

© Filinto Elísio. Translation © 2020 by Jethro Soutar. All rights reserved.

De Começar

De um grito, em parto,
e, depois, só silêncio.
Inerte pedra, atómica,
nuclear antes da vida.

Filinto Elísio

Filinto Elísio was born in Praia, Cabo Verde. A poet,…

Jethro Soutar

Jethro Soutar is an English writer and a translator…

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