Caso do Vestido

The Dress Case

Our mother, what is that
dress, on that nail?

My daughters, it's the dress
of a lady who passed by.

Passed by when, our mother?
Was she someone we knew?

My daughters, keep quiet.
Your father is coming.

Our mother, tell us quickly
what dress is that dress.

My daughters, but the body
is cold and doesn't wear it.

The dress, on that nail,
is dead, at peace.

Our mother, this dress
so much lace, this secret!

My daughters, listen
to the words from my mouth.

She was a lady from afar,
your father fell in love.

And he was so distraught,
lost so much of us,

moved away from all life,
closed himself off, devoured himself,

cried in the meat dish,
drank, fought, hit me,

left me with your cradle,
went to the lady from afar,

but the lady didn't care.
In vain, the father begged.

He offered policies, land,
cars, gold,

would drink his leftovers,
lick his shoe.
But the lady didn't care.
So your father, enraged,

asked me to ask her,
that wicked lady,
to have patience
and go to bed with him...

Our mother, why do you cry?
We offer you our handkerchief.

My daughters, your father
is coming to the courtyard. Let's disguise.

Our mother, we don't hear
footsteps on the stairs.

My daughters, I looked
for that demon woman.

And begged her to appease
my husband's desire.

I don't love your husband,
she told me with a laugh.

But I can be with him
if you agree,
just to please him,
not for me, I don't want a man.

I looked at your father,
his eyes were pleading.

I looked at the wicked lady,
her eyes were enjoying.

Her lace dress,
revealing more than hiding
the parts of the sinner.

I made the sign of the cross,
bowed... said yes.

I left thinking of death,
but death didn't come.

I walked through the five streets,
crossed bridges, rivers,
visited your relatives,
didn't eat, didn't speak,

had a tertian fever,
but death didn't come.

I was out of danger,
had white hair,
lost my teeth, my eyes,
sewed, washed, made sweets,

my hands were torn,
my rings scattered,
my gold chain
paid the pharmacy bill.

Your father disappeared into the world.
The world is big and small.

One day, the proud lady
appeared to me with nothing,
poor, undone, wretched,
with her bundle in hand.

Lady, I said softly,
I don't give you your husband,
I don't know where he is.
But I give you this dress,
last luxury piece
that I kept as a memory
of that snake day,
of the greatest humiliation.

I didn't love him,
but later love caught me.
But then he, disgusted,
confessed he only liked
me as I was before.
I threw myself at his feet,
did all sorts of endearments,
rubbed my face on the floor,
pulled my hair,
threw myself into the current,
cut myself with a knife,
threw myself into the abyss,
drank bile and gasoline,
prayed two hundred novenas,
lady, it was all in vain:
your husband disappeared.

Here I bring my clothes
that remind me of my wrongdoing
of offending a married lady
by trampling on her pride.
Receive this dress
and give me your forgiveness.

I looked at her face,
where were the sparkling eyes?
where was the grace of a smile,
the camellia-like neck?
where was that slender waist
graceful as ever?
where were the feet clad
in satin sandals?

I looked at her for a long time,
her mouth didn't say a word.
I took the dress, put
it on the wall nail.

She left quietly
and at the end of the road
your father appeared.
He looked at me in silence,
scarcely noticed the dress
and simply said: - Woman,
set another place at the table.
I did, he sat down,
ate, wiped the sweat,
he was always the same man,
ate a bit sideways
and wasn't even older.
The noise of the food
in his mouth, comforted me,
gave me great peace,
a strange feeling
that it was all a dream,
there is no dress... or anything.
My daughters, I hear
your father climbing the stairs.