Metáfora

Gilberto Gil's song 'Metáfora' delves into the profound and often elusive nature of poetic expression. The lyrics explore the concept of metaphors, emphasizing how poets use language to transcend literal meanings and convey deeper, often intangible ideas. The song begins by discussing a simple object, a can ('lata'), which typically exists to contain something. However, when a poet mentions a can, it might symbolize something uncontainable, suggesting that poetry has the power to stretch beyond the physical and the obvious.

The song continues with the idea of a goal ('meta'), which usually serves as a target to be achieved. Yet, in the hands of a poet, a goal can represent the unattainable, highlighting the aspirational and often unreachable nature of poetic ambitions. This duality in meaning underscores the flexibility and depth of poetic language, where words are not confined to their conventional definitions but are instead vessels for broader, more abstract concepts.

Gil urges listeners not to constrain poets by demanding concrete meanings from their work. He suggests that the essence of poetry lies in its ability to encompass everything and nothing simultaneously. The poet's role is to make the impossible fit within the possible, to stretch the boundaries of language and thought. The song concludes by advising against disputing the poet's goals or trying to impose one's own objectives onto their work. Instead, it encourages embracing the metaphorical nature of poetry, where meanings are fluid and open to interpretation, allowing for a richer, more expansive understanding of the world.