ourilha by Serena Biosffera

all proceeds go to a family in Gaza

faz uns anos engasguei / a few years ago i gagged
e só agora fui pensar / and only now did i think to wonder
por que não tossi? / why didn't i cough?
tentei tossir / i tried to cough
e não consegui / and i couldn't
lembrei que podia cuspir / i remembered i could spit
e cuspi nas minhas mãos / and i spat into my hands
e saiu o seguinte: / and here is what came out:
âmbar-gris / ambergris
e pedra no rim na mão / and kidney stone in hand
e âmbar, e gelo também / and amber, and ice as well
concha do mar, outro órgão / seashell, another organ
e uns ossos / and some bones
e por que? / and why?
porque quem não cospe / because whoever doesn't spit
engasga, afoga / chokes, drowns
enfim / anyway
morre cedo e com medo / dies early and afraid

you must remember to spit! three times, to your left, to ward off things. and you must cross yourself, even if you don't believe the cross, its splinters are everywhere, and spit hardens, better it's outside you when it does.

ainda criança, comi uma fruta / still a child, i ate a fruit
só porque sinto o gosto, ainda, / it's only because i can taste it, still,
que eu sei que comi / that i know did
aqui o caroço / here is the pit

all proceeds go to a family in Gaza

here is a pit