Gabriela Silva was born in the island of Flores, Açores.  She has been involved in the cultural life of this island for many years, where she has been a teacher, a union representative and a deputy to the Regional Assembly of the Azores.  She has published many works of poetry and prose.  Besides being the director of a cultural segment of a weekly newspaper, she is also involved in television, co-hosting the program Olhares for the regional station RTP-A.  She makes her home between S. Miguel and Flores.

Damned Island

where the day has months, lasts years

island of waves and undeceives

island of tiredness and misfortunes:

what enchantment do you have?

what truth is only yours?

That makes me leave

thinking of leaving forever

thinking of leaving alone

but I take with me

as a stigma, a punishment

the certainty of a desired return,

the incapacity of leaving only once

your company that I didn’t want

and you make me return, now without pain

now, all me, once again, pleasure and happiness

translated by Diniz Borges in On a Leaf of Blue

Ilha maldita

onde o dia tem meses, dura anos

ilha de marés de desenganos

ilha de cansaços e desditas:
que encanto é o teu

que verdade é a tua?

que faz com que eu parta

pensando ir de vez

pensando ir sozinha

e leve comigo

como um estigma, um castigo

a certeza de um regresso desejado,

a incapacidade de partir de um só vez

a tua companhia que eu não queria

e me faças voltar, já sem dor

já toda eu, outra vez, prazer e alegria