"Cuidado", In "Esquecer para Lembrar" (Boitempo), by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, English translation

Escultura de Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Praia de Copacabana

A porta cerrada

não abras.

Pode ser que encontres

o que não buscavas

nem esperavas.

Na escuridão

pode ser que esbarres

no casal em pé

tentando se amar

apressadamente.

Pode ser que a vela

que trazes na mão

te revele, trêmula,

tua escrava nova,

teu dono-marido.

Descuidosa, a porta

apenas cerrada

pode te contar

conto que não queres

saber.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don’t you open

the closed door.

It might well be that you find

what you were not looking for

nor expecting.

In the darkness

it might well be that you stumble

upon a standing couple

hurriedly attempting

to make love.

It might well be that the candle

that you carry in your hand, flickering,

reveals your young slave girl,

your master and husband.

Carelessly, the door

that you just closed

might very well reveal

a story that you do  not want

to know.

English translation by A. Baruffi, Literary Joint