“Do you want booze and kisses?”: dialogue ends with… poem and emotional escape. Incredible moment in Porto

During a book presentation, a surprising story emerges about a “gorgeous brunette” who approached the guest.

Saturday morning, Porto, in an area next to the Douro River. Miguel Gonçalves, science communicator and well-known face (for example) on RTP, was alone, preparing for the presentation of a book that would take place shortly afterwards.

Suddenly, a “very beautiful, dark-skinned woman” approaches, according to his description. And then the unexpected dialogue begins:

– Do you smoke?
– No.
– I have greed. I can sell.
– I don’t want.

“She was clearly affected by it.” And the topic became:

– Look, you’re coming with me. Let’s just kiss. 10 euros

“Find out what the value of a kiss is nowadays”, described Miguel, during the presentation of a book.

The communicator had a tablet in his hand at that moment, reading poems. And he suggested to that beautiful and unknown brunette:

– Look, I don’t have any money. But I have poems.

And he began to read her poetry. She started to look very fixed, emotional, and ran away.

“I don’t know if I did it right or if I did it wrong. But I know she wasn’t indifferent.”

And this is how we see the power of words, of poetry.

And so it is confirmed that poetry – and books in general – can be a form of therapy.

What is bibliotherapy

The book, which featured Miguel Gonçalves in the presentation, was .

The author is Diana Teixeira de Carvalho, who said during the presentation at the Grijó Monastery, in Vila Nova de Gaia: “Everyone enjoys this. Nobody knows what it is, nobody believes in it. ‘What? Read? Bibliotherapists? But is it the Bible? Do they have a reading association? Is it a reading club?'”.

As we have already shared, bibliotherapy involves conversation between the bibliotherapist and the “patient” – the reader – in a process of active listening; After understanding the context, some specific readings are recommended to alleviate the symptoms and represent the themes described.

The idea is to show, through reading, reflection and example, how to experience the problem in a lighter way, overcome feelings. Or adjust, develop.

It is an activity with a preventive and therapeutic aspect that can help to overcome a problem, or to make a professional decision, for example.

What is the book

The presentation of this book was part of the first national meeting of the Portuguese Association of Bibliotherapy – which is already registered and is now official. At the opening of the event, Cláudia Passarinho, the first president of this association, spoke.

Diana Teixeira de Carvalho, author of the book, explains to ZAP that the work combines poetry with bibliotherapy, to provide emotional management for the patient.

An analysis was carried out, an “autopsy” of 29 original poems, taking an expression from Cláudia Passarinho. The poems can be used by psychologists, therapists, informal caregivers or family doctors, among others.

“Not all problems are surmountable, but many situations can be prevented by reading poetry – which essentially tells us about emotions”, continues Diana.

The author emphasizes that bibliotherapy “does not cure or replace” any psychological treatment or clinical support. It is a “tool” that the professional in question can use.

The book will have an English version next month, January 2026.

The event held at the end of November also served to launch the digital magazine.

The next meeting of the Portuguese Bibliotherapy Association will be in Olhão, in the second half of 2026.