That Place
English Version — That Place:
Thanks to you, I was able to escape
from where I could only hear myself speak.
I always wanted to get out of here.
The perpetual quest led me to you.
Why can I see you
in those places you don't tell me about?
I get lost, with no one by my side.
I start to think there's something wrong with me.
In that place, the trees and the river;
salty waters of those who never smiled.
For it was here, where I slept;
now I sleep in a place near you.
Why I can see you,
in these places you don't tell me about?
I get lost, with no one by my side.
I begin to think that there is something wrong with me.
But I close my eyes until you're with me,
and I erase the trail that was left along the way.
I forget everything until she returns.
All so I won't return to that place.
Original Version (Portuguese) — Aquele Lugar:
Graças a ti, consegui escapar
d'onde só ouvia a mim mesmo falar.
Eu sempre quis sair daqui.
A busca perpétua levou-me a ti.
Porque é que eu consigo te ver,
nesses lugares que não me dás a conhecer?
Fico perdido, sem ninguém ao lado.
Começo a achar que tenho algo de errado.
Nesse lugar, as árvores e o rio;
águas salgadas de quem nunca sorriu.
Pois foi aqui, onde eu dormi;
agora durmo num lugar perto de ti.
Porque é que eu consigo te ver,
nesses lugares que não me dás a conhecer?
Fico perdido, sem ninguém ao lado.
Começo a achar que tenho algo de errado.
Mas fecho os olhos até estares comigo,
e apago o rasto que ficou pelo caminho.
Esqueço tudo até ela regressar.
Tudo para não voltar àquele lugar.
Posted Sep 16, 2021, 2:38 AM UTC
Hi, I really like this poem. I’m not sure what it’s about (I’m new to interpreting poems) but if it’s about what I think it is, feeling very attached to a person to the point where it’s maybe a little too much, then you did an incredible job of showing that. This poem feels very consistent, and I like the repetition, but you change the second repeated stanza a little to make it feel less copy and paste. But yeah I really enjoyed this, lemme know how close I was on the meaning.
If you’re new to interpreting poems, you’ll soon learn that poems aren’t about any one thing. You derive meaning from the poem. There isn’t one inherent to the text.
Ah yeah I know that much at least. I just wanted OP to know that if they hadn’t at all intended for it to be the meaning I derived , then it wasn’t an error in their writing, but rather a different interpretation on my part. Idk if that makes sense.
All of my pieces are written as if it is a song. Therefore the repetitions. I will not explain this poem from A to Z, but I can explain some things. This is inspired by Elegy IX of Ovid. It's about loving someone so dearly and fearing loneliness so much, that the narrator it's willing to forgive the significant other's constant betrayal and adultery.
Ooh cool. And the song thing is awesome, and yeah the repetition definitely makes sense in that context.