Poem of the day

Grass

Carl Sandburg
Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work
-I am the grass; I cover all.

And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and the passengers ask the conductor:

What place is this?
Where are we now?

I am the grass.
Let me work.
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Born on this day

15
António Maria Lisboa

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António Osório

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João Monge

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Bruna Lombardi

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Homero Prates

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Luiz Felipe Coelho

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Stella Leonardos

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Herman Melville

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The poor old Past, The Future’s slave.
Anne Hébert

Anne Hébert was a renowned Canadian writer, known for her poetry, novels, and short stories that explore the depths of the human psyche and the themes of identity, memory, and isolation. Born in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, Quebec, in 1916, she became one of the most important literary voices in French Canada. Her work is marked by a lyrical and evocative style, with an often dark and mysterious atmosphere. Hébert explored the complexity of human relationships, the duality between good and evil, and the search for transcendence amidst adversity.

Nuno Miranda

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Rui Grácio

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Ko Un

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André Berry

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Ernst Jandl

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Died on this day

7
Theodore Roethke

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Murillo Araújo

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Bastos Tigre

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Frei Amador Arrais

Frei Amador Arrais was a prominent figure in the clergy and Portuguese literature of the 17th century, known for his work "Dialogues on the Greatnesses of Brazil". His writing stands out for its exploration of themes related to the Brazilian land, its exuberant nature, and its inhabitants, from a perspective that, although rooted in his religious training, reveals a deep interest and admiration for the New World. His work is an important testimony to a European's view of colonial Brazil. Amador Arrais was a man of faith and letters, whose life unfolded between the religious office and intellectual production. His time in Brazil left an indelible mark on literature, offering a unique perspective on the colony during its period of greatest territorial expansion and exploitation.

M. S. Lourenço

M. S. Lourenço is an author whose literary work is characterized by its intellectual depth and its ability to articulate philosophical reflection with poetic expression. His writing explores complex themes, often linked to the human condition, memory, identity, and the very nature of literature. With rigorous language and keen sensitivity, Lourenço constructs texts that invite meditation and critical analysis, challenging the reader to a deeper exploration of the concepts addressed. His work is distinguished by the subtlety and relevance of its observations, reflecting a mind attentive to the multifaceted realities of being and knowing. Through prose or poetry situated at the intersection of the essayistic and the lyrical, M. S. Lourenço establishes a fruitful dialogue with the literary and philosophical tradition, while simultaneously projecting a contemporary vision of the dilemmas of the current world. His literary contribution is marked by intellectual rigor and the incessant search for precision and meaning.

Júlio de Sousa

Júlio de Sousa was a poet whose work is part of a specific literary context, marked by careful language and strong lyrical sensibility. His poetic production explores universal themes, addressing the human condition with depth and reflection. Through writing that combines musicality with imagistic density, the poet built a legacy that continues to resonate among readers and literary critics. His work is a testament to poetry's ability to express the most subtle nuances of human experience.