A poem on the earthquake at Lisbon

A vivid, 18th‑century verse opens with a sun‑lit portrait of Lisbon’s gleaming streets, lively markets, and bustling crowds. The poet sketches merchants unloading exotic goods, lovers preparing for marriage, and workers humming as the city basks in serene beauty. This bustling tableau sets a lively rhythm that draws the listener into the heart of a thriving port before any hint of disaster.

Suddenly, the tone shatters as the ground begins to tremble, and the poem captures the raw panic and confusion of the first tremor. Voices rise in terror, bodies stumble, and the calm of the day erupts into chaos. Through rapid, urgent stanzas the work reflects on human frailty, the sudden loss of pride, and the instinctive scramble for safety. Listeners will feel the immediacy of the shaking earth and the collective shock that ripples through a city unprepared for such a cataclysm.