Learn Portuguese (Portugal): O bloqueio é frustrante; ora quero desistir, ora desato a compor. - The block is frustrating; sometimes I want to give up, sometimes I suddenly start composing.

The correlative conjunction ora... ora... expresses alternating situations, much like "sometimes... sometimes..." or "one minute... the next...". Notice that it pairs with verbs in the standard indicative mood—in this case, the present tense verbs quero and desato—so you don't need to worry about it triggering the subjunctive.

Why use desato a compor instead of just começo a compor?

The expression desatar a followed by an infinitive means to start doing something very suddenly or impulsively, adding much more emotion than the basic verb começar (to start). It translates well to "burst into" or "suddenly start". You will frequently hear it in common phrases like desatar a chorar (to burst into tears) or desatar a rir (to burst out laughing).

Does o bloqueio refer to a physical blockade or a mental block?

In this context, it refers to a mental block, specifically a creative one (like writer's block). While bloqueio can indeed mean a physical obstruction or a traffic blockade, the second half of the sentence about giving up or composing makes it clear this is an internal creative struggle.

Is the verb compor only used for music?

It is most commonly used for composing music or poetry, which suggests the speaker here is a musician or songwriter. However, compor is also a very versatile verb in Portuguese that can mean to fix, arrange, or put something together (like an outfit, a messy room, or a broken item).