Gilberto Gil: Biography and Poems | Brazilian Poetry

Gilberto Gil Brazilian Poet

Biography.

Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira (born 26 June 1942), known professionally as Gilberto Gil, is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known for both his musical innovation and political activism. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Brazil's Minister of Culture in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Gil's musical style incorporates an eclectic range of influences, including rock, Brazilian genres including samba, African music, and reggae.

Star

Look at the sky
I know a star is born
Every time I see you smile
And otherwise
I know a star is gone
Every time I see you cry

And sometimes, in the sky,
There´s a mistery indeed
A star maybe shine
When your eyes spill a tear
Or who knows?
A shooting star may suicide
Just to see
That open flower on your lips

Oh, God allows
Such miracles
So life´s a bit like this
If we know how
To celebrate all the things
His heart is pleased to see

Peace

Oh, Peace, that invaded my very soul,
In the blink of an eye. Then peace
A typhoon that could sweep the world
Ripped my feet and my body, oh
Off the ground I´ve been buried in

Oh, Peace, when the revolutions arise,
It´s the time to plant all your seeds
And when bombs burn down the skies
I can feel you blooming in me
As a tribute to those who died

Then I thought of me
And I thought of you
And I cried for us
That´s a nonsense sight
Only war can make
Our love go right

I´ve been through the world until I got here
In the end of the road at last
Where the sun sets fire on me
Where the afternoon dies so fast
And the waves drown the tears in me

Superman, The Song

I would think that being a man was all that´s good
That the manly world could give me all it should,
Whatever was on my heart

Not right, the female part of me that was always cast aside
It´s the best part I carry deep inside
It´s what makes me whole

I dream that every man could understand, I dream
And be the Summer at the dawn of Spring
Only because of her

I hope that super-man can bring us back the glory
And use the pen to change the words, the story
Only because of her

I hope that super-man can bring us back the glory
And use the pen to change the words, the story
Only because of her
Translated by by Rita Cammarota