Uma Casa Portuguesa

Lisbon, February 13th

It’s cold outside
So come on in
And warm yourself
In this Portuguese house
Sit here with me
at the fire
Lend your ear to
melodies of melancholy
Guitarristas play
The fadista sings
About a heart that burns,
that longs
A fire inside
that is so strong
It lights up true faces
As by the light
of a heart on fire
Only realness
does not get burned away

©RoseGirl2018

Picture: João Martins
“Fado Corrido” com Amália Rodrigues, 1964

Lisboa, Queen Of My Heart

The blue sea smells of sardines
The land is scented with saudade
Waves of memories
roll towards me
I dance my way through Alfama
And will write my own history
Sounds of Fado take me with you
To comforting Portuguese ground
Into the heart of faith and fate
What will be will be
with no doubt

Let my tears merge
with the water of the Tagus
Let my soul flame o meu amor
I will be the queen of myself
On the hill in the castle
Ready to receive the king of my heart

Let me discover the truth of a treasure
I will embark the ship of my dreams
Let me raise my glass to good fortune
Let God be with me when I go overseas

Lisboa, city of light
Always have your arms wide open
To allow me to return back home
Though there can be stormy waters
I will never lose track of your shore