LIMBOA (1.5)

06/13/2026

But instead how well behaved i was with her –
respecting her grace though loving her madly
telling lies – to this old man – of her young men –
all the boys who had knelt before her only
to receive – instead of a kiss – a nice kick
those stories she told matteroffactly yet –
i must admit – with a certain cruelty –
cruelty careless with its power over
that me – estrangeiro soon to disappear
to go lost – as she would finally command –
and – as she could not imagine – become more
lost than he and i had ever felt before –
he and i two different old boys in one me
and there you have the madly to my loving
at first sight – or maybe i mean sight unseen

(from Limboa , a sentimental anthem
by Brian Chan, 2023)