Espelho [English translation]

Born in the suburbs of the golden years,

with vows of a happily living family

The dream was to walk and pilot a bird made of iron

When he got home at the end of the day, so tired

With the most beautiful soldier uniform of the country!

With a ring on his finger and the fingers on the guitar,

my father smiled and really seemed to be happy

What a nice life... it's been such a long time!

What a happiness!

I wish I could play guitar like a professional

And make songs like the ones my father used to make

In a terribly sad day I lost my old man

And I confess you that I still miss him up until today

That day I hold onto my soccer ball and dreamed of one day

becoming a famous player when I got old enough

But one day I kicked wrong and hurt my toe

And since my dad wasn't there to help me with my fears anymore

That was only one more dream I left behind

What a meaningless life... it slips away with time

And in all my naiveness, with all the innocence of a little boy

I told God he was no longer my friend because he had taken my dad away

So I kept on growing and I had to take care of myself

I learned at the streets, at school and at home

One day I became the most respected guy in my neighborhood

I was the best of everything: games, fights, girls

Until the day I had to stop attending school

and began to work in the streets to support my family

then without realising I turned into an adult

Life flies, it slips away with time

Oh, how I miss him!

But I know he looks out for me from above

and he must be proud to have a son just like his father

Then I was kissed on the lips and I became a poet

However, since I'm so accostumed to adversity

I'm afraid that one day my verses may hurt me

And my greatest fear is the mirror to break...

• Artist:João Nogueira