João Luís Barreto Guimarães


Bio: João Luís Barreto Guimarães was born in Porto, Portugal and is a reconstrutive surgeon. He is the author of thirteen books of poetry and anthologies such as Mediterranean (Mediterrâneo, Lisbon, Quetzal, 2016) chosen for the National Award António Ramos Rosa 2017 for best poetry book edited in Portugal in 2016, also a finalist for the Camaiori International Prize 2018 in Italy. Nomad (Nómada, Lisbon, Quetzal, 2018) was chosen for the Best Poetry Book of the Year Bertrand Award in 2018. His poems have been published in nineteen countries and have appeared in the International Poetry Review, Tupelo Quarterly, The London Magazine, Salamander, and others.

Physics Problem

to José Antonio Mesa Toré If theMalaga–Cordoba TGV travels at 300 km per hour(the hills spilling waterfalls of Mudéjar architecture) and Isaunter to the bar car at 2 km per hour(over the Andalusian soil immortal olive trees) atwhat speeddoes the heart rush to contemplate thoseflowered terraces of fiestas(the elegant Arabic alleyways) thesepia arches of the cathedral?
a) 150 km per hourb) 600 km per hourc) 302 km per hour (Translated by Calvin Olsen)


Problema de Física


 a José Antonio Mesa Toré
Se o TGVMálaga – Córdoba segue a trezentos à hora(as colinas derramando cascatasde casas mudéjares) e eusigo para o vagão-bar a 2 km por hora(sobre a terra andaluza oliveiras imortais) comque pressao coração corre a poder contemplar ospátios floridos das fiestas(as esguias ruelas árabes) osarcos sépia da Catedral?
a) 150 km por horab) 600 km por horac) 302 km por hora

Just Yesterday in Pocinho

Valle do NídeoDouroReserva 200914% vol. Andhere we are (you and I) nomads at this sacred river where a distant cousin of ours(some 30,000years ago) left etched in stoneon a magic altar of shale this couple of cervids (if not striking apose too bold for a sanctuary’s tasteat least giving the impression they’ve been holding itsince thePaleolithic Age). Only Homo sapiens in theelegant Côa museum:two or three inventions discovered practically yesterday(that of having managed to domesticate firethe use of a spoken languagecreation of fine artwith signs). Such a long migration northward fromKenya till up here—I could have spoken a little more about this slow awakeningbut the wine makesme sleepy. (Translated by Calvin Olsen)

Ainda ontem no Pocinho

Valle do NídeoDouroReserva 2009 14% vol. Eaqui estamos (tu e eu) nómadasneste rio sagrado onde um primo nosso afastado(alguns 30mil anos) deixou picotado em pedranum mágico altar de xisto estecasalde cervídeos (se não empose ousada para o que deve um santuáriopelo menos dando a ideia de estarem ali naquilojá desde oPaleolítico). Homo sapiens apenas nobelo Museu do Côa:duas ou três invenções são desde ontem notícia(isso de termos logrado o fogo domesticadousarmos linguagem faladacriarmos belas artescom signos). Longa migração para norte desde oQuénia até aqui –podia falar um pouco desse lento despertarmas já me adormeceo vinho.

At Ten Past Ten

In Malta the dayalways happens in the outside lane(these things a stubborn remnant of the British rule).In the city of Mdina thechurch used two clocks (onedisplayed the true time to call the faithfulthe other a fake timeto fool the devil). Thefiend should not have stuckhis nose in matters of time(even a stopped clock is righttwo times a day)at that hour the city escaped the evil eye—be it Christbe it the clockthey awaited us with open armsat ten past ten. (Translated by Calvin Olsen)

Às dez e dez

Em Malta o diaacontece sempre pela faixa do lado(coisas que foram ficando da ocupação inglesa).Na cidade de Mdina aigreja usava dois relógios (ummostrava a hora certa para chamar os fiéiso outro a hora erradapara enganar o diabo). Odemo não deveria ater-senos assuntos do tempo(mesmo se a hora parada acertaduas vezes por dia)àquela hora a cidade escapava ao mau olhado –quer Cristoquer o relógioesperavam-nos com um abraço abertonas dez e dez.

That Which Is Infinite

in memoriam Paulo Cunha e Silva
Another day begins now and it’s one moreday without you. We wandered around the city making sure to recognize you(none of the names that passed happenedto be yours). Where is thehappiness we built our house on(searching for a window tendernessour roof) whereis your thought faster than the speed of light?Where are you that we don’t have you? Whereis your energy? Theboats that dance in the river all day longwithout rest (the waves that never give upreplicating on the Foz) themirrors in this Café that don’t shut off even at night (the rainbow of love in the avenue’s stoplights)—maybe you’ve been sown into the streetsamid whatever never stops (in afrenzy of particles)who knows maybe you exist in everything that never rests (inside whateverdoesn’t shut off:) timewhich is infinite. (Translated by Calvin Olsen)

Aquilo que é infinito

in memoriam Paulo Cunha e Silva
Começa agora outro dia e é maisoutro dia sem ti. Errámos pela cidadecuidando reconhecer-te(nenhum dos nomes que passam aconteceser o teu). Onde está aalegria onde assentávamos casa(a procura por janela a ternurapor telhado) onde oteu pensamento mais veloz que o próprio dia?Onde estás que não te temos? Ondea tua energia? Osbarcos que bailam no rio o dia inteirosem descanso (as ondas que não desistem dese repetir na foz) osespelhos deste Café que nem à noite se desligam(o arco-íris do amor nos semáforos da avenida) –talvez tu tenhas ficado semeado pelas ruasnaquilo que nunca para (numfrenesim de partículas)quem sabe agora existas em tudoo que não descansa (nisso quenão se desliga:) o tempoque é infinito.
Calvin Olsen’s poetry and translations have recently appeared in Poet Lore, The National Poetry Review, AGNI, Asymptote, and The Cortland Review, among others. He lives in North Carolina, USA, where he is a doctoral student and the poetry editor for The Carolina Quarterly. More of his work can be found at calvin-olsen.com.

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