Bridge
Prado is its name
a village without fame
save for its Roman bridge.
They said I was the first foreigner
to pass it over
in almost two thousand years.
A loira - the blond - she was
I mention her because
I fell for her.
the village beauty
as fair as fair could be
but with a tragic history.
One weekend
as was the custom then
the blond travelled with her namorado, her boyfriend
to a neighbouring place
where she could showcase
her beauty and her dance.
That night
there was a fight
between two men claiming her heart
the namorado disappeared
not to be seen again
until his body was found floating
down the river running under the Prado bridge.
I sometimes ask myself what was the destiny
of this young lady coping with the penalty
of having loved her namorado
at fifteen without the sanction of the powers that be.
Hers was a secret that all the village knew
I am sure her love was true
But in Prado she could never find love again
especially when this happened - way back then.

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