Bertolt Brecht
Author of the day

Bertolt Brecht

Bertolt Brecht was a highly influential German playwright, poet, and theatre director. He is renowned for his pioneering work in epic theatre, which aimed to provoke critical thought rather than emotional immersion. His writings often carried strong political and social messages, critiquing capitalism, war, and injustice. Brecht's innovative techniques, such as the alienation effect (Verfremdungseffekt), revolutionized modern theatre.

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.
Read full poem

Born on this day

7
Oswaldo Alcântara

Oswaldo Alcântara was a Brazilian poet and professor, known for his contribution to contemporary poetry. His work explored universal themes with an accessible and profound language, marked by reflections on the human condition, time, and the ephemerality of life. He was also a dedicated educator, influencing generations of students.

João Albino Peixoto

João Albino Peixoto was a Portuguese writer whose work fits into the literary tradition of his country, exploring themes that resonate with identity, memory, and the human condition. His writing is marked by careful attention to language and the ability to evoke atmospheres and feelings deeply. Peixoto dedicated himself to exploring narratives that invite reflection on the past, present, and the complexities of existence, leaving a literary record that values introspection and sensitivity.

Rui Lage

Rui Lage is a Portuguese poet, translator, and essayist whose work is distinguished by its diversity and intellectual depth. His poetry, often marked by intertextual dialogue and precise language, addresses themes such as memory, the city, identity, and the relationship between the individual and the collective. As a translator, he plays a significant role in disseminating English-language literature in Portugal. His essays offer insightful analyses of literature and culture.

Eugène Guillevic

Eugène Guillevic was a French poet, known for his work exploring the relationship between humanity and the natural world, often with a contemplative and philosophical tone. His poetry is marked by formal simplicity and depth of thought, addressing themes such as the earth, time, and existence with clear and evocative language.

Linda Gregerson

Linda Gregerson is an American poet known for her intellectually rigorous and imaginative poetry, which often addresses themes of history, science, religion, and the human experience in its diverse facets. Her work is characterized by precise language, a wide range of cultural references, and a deep curiosity about the world. Gregerson is admired for her ability to weave connections between the past and the present, the personal and the universal.

Died on this day

9
Ana Luísa Amaral

Ana Luísa Amaral was a Portuguese poet, essayist, and translator whose work deeply explored themes such as identity, memory, the body, otherness, and the complex relationship between the human and non-human. With precise and imagistic language, her poetry reflects a constant questioning of the world and the subject's place within it, often permeated by an ecological and feminist sensibility. Her vast body of work, encompassing poetry, essays, and children's and young adult literature, earned her broad national and international recognition, consolidating her as one of the most unique and important voices in contemporary Portuguese-language poetry.

Ana Hatherly

Ana Hatherly is a central figure in Portuguese experimental poetry, known for her innovative approach that crosses literature, visual arts, and performance. Her work explores the relationship between word and image, the materiality of text, and language as a construction of meaning, with a strong conceptual character.

Otacílio Batista Patriota

Otacílio Batista Patriota was a Brazilian popular poet, known for his work that portrays the life and customs of the Northeastern sertão. His poetry, with strong regional roots and orality, celebrates sertaneja culture, its struggles and beauties, using accessible language and striking rhymes. He is an emblematic figure of popular literature from the Northeast, whose verses continue to echo the soul of the sertanejo.

Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a 19th-century Indian mystic and yogi. He is a central figure in the Bramo Samaj and one of India's most revered saints. Ramakrishna is known for his devotion to the goddess Kali and for his mystical experiences.

Toni Morrison

Chloe Ardelia Wofford Morrison, known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist, essayist, editor, and professor. She is known for her novels that explore the African American experience, especially that of women. Morrison won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

The language must be careful and must appear effor
António Mendes Portalegre

António Mendes Portalegre was a Portuguese poet whose work fits into literary contexts ranging from intimism to experimentation. Associated with various literary magazines, his poetry is characterized by reflection on the everyday, ephemerality, and the search for authentic expression. His work, although sometimes discreet in volume, is valued for its sensitivity and the way it captures the nuances of human existence.

Matthew Sweeney

Matthew Sweeney was a British poet of American origin, known for his imaginative and often dark poetry. His work is characterized by vivid language, a sense of strangeness, and an exploration of themes such as memory, identity, and the mysterious nature of the world.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala

Ramón Pérez de Ayala was a distinguished Spanish novelist, essayist, and literary critic, known for his profound erudition and his reflective and often ironic style. His work is characterized by an exploration of the complexity of the human condition, the clash between tradition and modernity, and a sharp observation of Spanish society. Pérez de Ayala is a key figure of the Generation of 1914, a group of intellectuals who sought the Europeanization of Spanish culture. His prose, elegant and dense, addresses themes such as identity, memory, love, and the crisis of values.

Edgar Albert Guest

Edgar Albert Guest was a prolific and widely read poet whose work captured the sentiments and experiences of everyday life for a broad audience. Often referred to as "America's People's Poet," his verses focused on themes of home, family, friendship, and the simple virtues that resonated with the common person. His accessible style and optimistic outlook made his poetry a staple in newspapers and popular publications, earning him immense popularity during his lifetime.

A Christmas Greeting