I wrote this poem as a child, after a certain incident, and, like many of my poems attributed to other poets, this one has been commonly attributed to Cecília Meireles, maybe because she had a book on poems for children published. This isn't a nursery rhyme, though. I finally translated everything into English (I grew up bilingual). Of course, this is not an exact translation, but rather an unprecedented adaption, as happens with poetry. You can read both versions bellow. Mullher ao Espellho Read it in English Hoje, que seja esta ou aquela Pouco me importa Quero apenas parecer bela Pois seja qual for, estou morta. Já fui loura, já fui morena Já fui Margarida e Beatriz Já fui Maria e Madalena Só não pude ser como quis. Que mal faz esta cor fingida Do meu cabelo, do meu rosto Se tudo é tinta; o mundo, a vida O contentamento, o desgosto. Karen Stärke Woman in the Mirror Today, being a zero or someone I no longer care As long as I'm the pretty one For I'm dead whoeve