In Portalegre, city

In the Alto Alentejo, surrounded

By Mountains, winds, cliffs, olive and cork trees

I lived in an old house,

Old, large, rough and beautiful

Which, it was as if

It was made for me to live in it ...

Full of good and bad smells

Like houses that have history,

Full of a faint, but alive, haunting memory

Old people and houses,

Full sun on window glass

And dark corners,

Full of fear and quiet,

Silences and gasps,

- Which was good as if it was

Made to the style of the past

Like a warm hug

José Régio