Portuguese mulheres* soak up
the sun in Algarve cafes
while in Warsaw’s Łazienki Park the old grey
feeds the pigeons calm and gently
for this morning avian ritual
she has run half a marathon
she doesn’t have fits of anger any more
she doesn’t nurture scars
with each passing year more strongly
down to earth
the smile that kisses butterflies
should be on the calendar –
not forced – more beautiful with every line
she knows it’s hardest to forgive
Translation Graham Crawford
Anturaż, FONT 2019
*in Portugese – women