Discover beautiful Portuguese poems to help you learn the language!
When it comes to learning Portuguese, I always tell my students that the key is to make it feel alive. Sure, grammar drills and vocabulary lists have their place—but language truly comes to life when it’s wrapped in culture, emotion, and rhythm. That’s why I love bringing poetry into our Portuguese lessons.
Poetry has this magical ability to slow things down. It gives you the chance to savor each word, notice the way sentences are built, and experience the sounds of the language in a more intimate, musical way. And the best part? Portuguese poetry is rich. From the heartfelt verses of Brazilian modernists to the saudade-filled lines of classic Portuguese poets, there’s a whole world to explore.
In this post, I’m going to share some of my favorite Portuguese poems that I think are perfect for language learners. Each one is short, beautiful, and full of learning opportunities—whether you’re practicing pronunciation, picking up new vocabulary, or just getting a feel for how Portuguese expresses emotion. Let’s dive in!
Portuguese Poems + Translation
1. “Autopsicografia” by Fernando Pessoa
In this iconic poem, Pessoa reflects on the role of the poet as a maker of illusions, someone who feels emotions deeply but pretends otherwise. It’s a clever, self-aware take on poetry itself, filled with irony and philosophical depth. This poem is perfect for learners curious about Pessoa’s unique use of language and his alter egos.
O poeta é um fingidor.
Finge tão completamente
Que chega a fingir que é dor
A dor que deveras sente.
E os que lêem o que escreve,
Na dor lida sentem bem,
Não as duas que ele teve,
Mas só a que eles não têm.
E assim nas calhas de roda
Gira, a entreter a razão,
Esse comboio de corda
Que se chama o coração.
English Translation:
The poet is a faker.
He fakes so completely
That he even fakes that it is pain
The pain that he really feels.
And those who read what he writes,
In the pain read feel well,
Not the two that he had,
But only the one they do not have.
And so on the wheel’s rails
Turns, to entertain reason,
That wind-up train
Which is called the heart.
2. “Canção do Exílio” by Gonçalves Dias
This is one of the most famous poems in Brazilian literature. It expresses longing for the homeland and is a perfect introduction to the theme of saudade, a deeply Portuguese and Brazilian concept of nostalgia.
Minha terra tem palmeiras,
Onde canta o Sabiá;
As aves, que aqui gorjeiam,
Não gorjeiam como lá.
Nosso céu tem mais estrelas,
Nossas várzeas têm mais flores,
Nossos bosques têm mais vida,
Nossa vida mais amores.
Em cismar – sozinho – à noite –
Mais prazer encontro eu lá;
Minha terra tem palmeiras;
Onde canta o Sabiá.
Minha terra tem primores,
Que tais não encontro eu cá;
Em cismar – sozinho – à noite –
Mais prazer encontro eu lá;
Minha terra tem palmeiras,
Onde canta o Sabiá.
Não permita Deus que eu morra,
Sem que eu volte para lá;
Sem que eu desfrute os primores
Que não encontro por cá;
Sem qu’inda aviste as palmeiras,
Onde canta o Sabiá.
English Translation:
My land has palm trees,
Where the thrush sings;
The birds that chirp here,
Do not chirp like there.
Our sky has more stars,
Our meadows have more flowers,
Our forests have more life,
Our life more loves.
In thinking – alone – at night –
I find more pleasure there;
My land has palm trees;
Where the thrush sings.
My land has delights,
That I do not find here;
In thinking – alone – at night –
I find more pleasure there;
My land has palm trees,
Where the thrush sings.
God forbid that I die,
Without returning there;
Without enjoying the delights
That I do not find here;
Without still seeing the palm trees,
Where the thrush sings.
3. “É urgente o amor” by Eugénio de Andrade
This short, lyrical poem is a passionate plea for love, kindness, and connection in a world that often forgets them. Its repetition and simplicity make it accessible even for beginners, yet the emotion is deeply powerful. It’s a great way to explore the emotional resonance of Portuguese.
É urgente o amor.
É urgente um barco no mar.
É urgente destruir certas palavras,
ódio, solidão e crueldade,
alguns lamentos,
muitas espadas.
É urgente inventar alegria,
multiplicar os beijos, as searas,
é urgente descobrir rosas e rios
e manhãs claras.
Cai o silêncio nos ombros e a luz
impura, até doer.
É urgente o amor, é urgente
permanecer.
English Translation:
Love is urgent
It is urgent a boat in the sea.
It is urgent to destroy certain words,
hatred, loneliness and cruelty,
some sorrows,
many swords.
It is urgent to make up joy,
to multiply the kisses, the cornfields,
it is urgent to discover roses and rivers
and bright mornings.
The silence falls on the shoulders and the impure
light, until it hurts.
Love is urgent, it is urgent to
stay.
4. “Rústica” by Florbela Espanca
Espanca’s poetry often explores femininity, longing, and melancholy, and “Rústica” is no exception. This poem evokes the rawness of nature and personal emotion, mixing sensuality with introspection. It’s a beautiful glimpse into her distinctive, soul-baring style.
Ser a moça mais linda do povoado,
Pisar, sempre contente, o mesmo trilho,
Ver descer sobre o ninho aconchegado
A benção do Senhor em cada filho.
Um vestido de chita bem lavado,
Cheirando a alfazema e a tomilho…
Com o luar matar a sede ao gado,
Dar às pombas o sol num grão de milho…
Ser pura como a água da cisterna,
Ter confiança numa vida eterna
Quando descer à «terra da verdade»…
Meu Deus, dai-me esta calma, esta pobreza!
Dou por elas meu trono de Princesa,
E todos os meus Reinos de Ansiedade.
English Translation:
To be the most beautiful girl in the village,
Stepping, always happy, on the same track,
See descending on the cozy nest
The Lord’s blessing with every child.
A well-washed calico dress,
Smelling of lavender and thyme…
With the moonlight quenching the thirst of the cattle,
Give the doves the sun on a grain of corn…
To be pure like the water in the cistern,
Have confidence in eternal life
When descending to the «land of truth»…
My God, give me this calmness, this poverty!
For them, I give up my Princess throne,
And all my Anxiety Realms.
5. “Os Poemas” by Mário Quintana
This short and reflective poem compares poems to small, mysterious creatures that live their own lives—untamed and free. Quintana suggests that poems aren’t written so much as they happen, often eluding the control of the poet. It’s a gentle, whimsical reminder that language can be spontaneous, and that sometimes the best way to understand poetry is simply to feel it.
Os poemas são pássaros que chegam
não se sabe de onde e pousam
no livro que lês.
Quando fechas o livro, eles alçam voo
como de um alçapão.
Eles não têm pouso
nem porto
alimentam-se um instante
em cada par de mãos
e partem.
E olhas, então, essas tuas mãos vazias,
no maravilhado espanto de saberes
que o alimento deles já estava em ti…
English Translation:
Poems are birds that arrive
from nowhere and land
on the book you are reading.
When you close the book, they take flight
as if from a trapdoor.
They have no landing
or port
they feed for a moment
in each pair of hands
and then leave.
And then you look at your empty hands,
in the marvelous amazement of knowing
that their food was already in you…
6. “Mar Português” by Fernando Pessoa
Written under the heteronym Álvaro de Campos, this poem is a tribute to the Portuguese Age of Exploration—and the price paid for glory. It captures national pride, sacrifice, and saudade in a powerful, compact form. A great choice for practicing more formal, historical vocabulary.
Ó mar salgado, quanto do teu sal
São lágrimas de Portugal!
Por te cruzarmos, quantas mães choraram,
Quantos filhos em vão rezaram!
Quantas noivas ficaram por casar
Para que fosses nosso, ó mar!
Valeu a pena? Tudo vale a pena
Se a alma não é pequena.
Quem quer passar além do Bojador
Tem que passar além da dor.
Deus ao mar o perigo e o abismo deu,
Mas nele é que espelhou o céu.
English Translation:
Oh salty sea, how much of your salt
Are the tears of Portugal!
Because we crossed you, how many mothers cried,
How many children prayed in vain!
How many brides never married
So that you would be ours, oh sea!
Was It worth it? All is worth it
If the soul is not small.
Those who want to pass beyond Bojador
Have to pass beyond the pain
God gave danger and the abysm to the sea,
But it was also there where He mirrored the sky.
Let Poetry Be Your Language Teacher!
Learning Portuguese doesn’t have to be all textbooks and flashcards. As you’ve seen in the poems we explored, there’s so much you can learn just by slowing down and listening to how the language breathes on the page. Poetry gives you rhythm, emotion, and culture—all packed into just a few lines.
If one of the poems resonated with you, go back to it. Read it aloud. Copy it by hand. Try translating it yourself. These little rituals can do wonders for your language journey. And remember, poetry isn’t about perfect understanding—it’s about feeling something, even if you only catch every other word at first.
Do you want to learn Portuguese? Find a tutor and book a private class! Our expert staff will get in touch within 24 hours!
