My Beloved Lady

By Magin Mario Balthazaar

Translated from Sri Lanka Portuguese by Hugo C. Cardoso

Dancing figures prominently in this short love poem.

October 5, 2021

Sri Lanka

Listen to Magin Mario Balthazaar read "Minha ámoor nóóna" in the original Sri Lanka Portuguese

My beloved lady, my sweet lady,
Come and sing so beautifully.
There will be no trouble, life will be good,
Come and dance the káfriinha.¹

Beside the house,
On the nearby fence,
Hang your skirts and all to dry,
Then take them back inside.

Your face is like a rose blossom,
I quickly take your hand
And offer you a gold ring,
For your finger, my beloved lady.

When you and I are united,
Sitting cozily together,
I will give my life, I will give my heart
To you, my lady, without regret.

^1.^{A typical dance and musical tradition of the Sri Lanka Portuguese Burgher community.↩}

My beloved lady, my sweet lady,
Come and sing so beautifully.
There will be no trouble, life will be good,
Come and dance the káfriinha.¹

Beside the house,
On the nearby fence,
Hang your skirts and all to dry,
Then take them back inside.

Your face is like a rose blossom,
I quickly take your hand
And offer you a gold ring,
For your finger, my beloved lady.

When you and I are united,
Sitting cozily together,
I will give my life, I will give my heart
To you, my lady, without regret.

^1.^{A typical dance and musical tradition of the Sri Lanka Portuguese Burgher community.↩}

Ámoor nóóna, minha dóósi nóóna,
Tambomley kantáá poy vii ka.
Kástiv nuteem, boom viida loteem,
Káfriinha báyláá vii ka.

Lóónji kááza bóórdantu,
Péértu loteem séévintu,
Sekáá vatáá sáya tudu,
Teraá gárdáá káázantu.

Róóza fuula roostupa,
Máám lopeyáá ertipa
Ooru teráá bospa lodáá,
Ámoor nóóna votáápa.

Magin Mario Balthazaar hails from Batticaloa, Sri…

Hugo C. Cardoso is a professor of linguistics at the…