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

11
Helder Moura Pereira

Helder Moura Pereira is a contemporary Portuguese poet and writer, whose work is notable for its lyrical depth and exploration of themes such as identity, memory, time, and the complexities of human existence. His writing is characterized by careful language, rich in strong imagery and a unique musicality. With a keen sensitivity to the nuances of the human condition, Helder Moura Pereira invites the reader on an introspective journey, through verses that resonate with authenticity and emotion. His poetry has gained significant space in the Portuguese literary scene.

Belmiro Braga

Belmiro Braga was a Brazilian poet whose work is characterized by lyrical delicacy and the exploration of themes such as nature, love, and spirituality. His writing reveals a particular sensitivity for capturing the beauty of the world and human emotions, with a language that oscillates between simplicity and depth. His poetry invites serene contemplation and the rediscovery of enchantment in the small things of life.

Fernando Paixão

Fernando Paixão is a Portuguese poet whose work is distinguished by the exploration of themes such as love, the ephemerality of life, saudade (longing/nostalgia), and the search for meaning. His poetry is often marked by a deep lyrical sensibility and an elaborate language that combines formal rigor with intense expressiveness. With a consolidated literary career, Paixão has been establishing himself as a unique voice in contemporary Portuguese-language poetry, engaging with literary tradition while offering an original perspective on human anxieties.

Zetho Cunha Gonçalves

Zetho Cunha Gonçalves is an Angolan journalist and writer, known for his work in the press and for his literary work that portrays the reality of Angola. His career is marked by the coverage of important events and the exploration of social and cultural themes.

Charles Péguy

Charles Péguy was a French poet, essayist, and editor. Known for his nationalism and Catholicism, he founded and directed the magazine "Cahiers de la Quinzaine". His work is marked by a strong moral and spiritual dimension.

Giorgio Caproni

Giorgio Caproni was an Italian poet whose work is characterized by a profound melancholy, a constant questioning of existence, memory, and the search for meaning in a world marked by loss and transience. His poetry, of great formal and expressive rigor, often explores themes such as childhood, the maternal figure, the city of Livorno, and the human condition in the face of the mystery of being. Considered one of the great names in 20th-century Italian poetry, Caproni built a unique poetic universe, where existential reflection unites with a lyrical and musical language, sometimes ironic and bitter, but always imbued with rare authenticity.

Allen Grossman

Allen Grossman was an American poet and literary critic, known for his dense and intellectually demanding poetry. His work explores themes such as history, culture, mythology, and the search for order and meaning in a chaotic universe. As a critic, Grossman focused on analyzing literary tradition and the structures that shape human understanding. His poetry is often characterized by an epic tone and a language rich in references, reflecting a deep engagement with the great questions of existence and civilization.

Marilina Rébora

Marilina Rébora is an Argentine writer and poet whose work is characterized by a profound exploration of identity, memory, and nature. Her poetry, often marked by introspective lyricism, addresses the human experience with particular sensitivity and careful language. She has also cultivated narrative and essay writing, establishing herself as a relevant voice in the contemporary literature of her country, with a body of work that dialogues between the personal and the universal.

Enrique Díez Canedo

Enrique Díez Canedo was a prominent Spanish poet and literary critic, a key figure in the renewal of lyric poetry in the early 20th century. His work is characterized by a deep aesthetic sensibility, a masterful command of language, and a constant exploration of themes such as love, melancholy, and the transience of time. His work as a critic and introducer of avant-garde poetry in Spain was fundamental to the development of the literature of his time, leaving an important legacy in contemporary criticism and poetry.

Died on this day

5
D. Dinis

Dom Dinis was a king of Portugal known as "the Farmer" and "the Poet". During his reign, Portugal experienced a period of significant economic and cultural development. He was a patron of arts and sciences, promoting education and the creation of cultural institutions. His poetic output, mostly composed of "cantigas de amigo" and "cantigas de amor", reflects the troubadour sensibility of the time, addressing themes such as nature, saudade, and the dilemmas of courtly love, with a rich and musical language.

Amália de Alarcão Ribeiro Martins

Amália de Alarcão Ribeiro Martins was a Portuguese poet whose work is mainly associated with Portuguese Modernism. Characterized by a lyrical style of a confessional and introspective tone, her poetry explores themes such as love, the ephemerality of life, solitude, and the search for existential meaning. Her writing is distinguished by its sensitivity and the musicality of its verses. Her contribution to Portuguese literature, although sometimes less prominent than that of some contemporaries, is valued for its emotional depth and lyrical purity, offering an intimate look at the female experience and the human condition.

François Fénelon

François de Salignac de La Mothe-Fénelon, known as Fénelon, was a French theologian, poet, and writer. He served as tutor to the Dauphin of France, grandson of Louis XIV, and was later appointed Archbishop of Cambrai. He is remembered for his work "The Adventures of Telemachus", an educational novel that became a European bestseller.

John Berryman

John Berryman was a renowned American poet, known for his lyrical intensity and exploration of themes such as pain, identity, madness, and mortality. His most celebrated work, "The Dream Songs," is a monumental piece that earned him the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, establishing him as one of the most important voices in 20th-century American poetry. Berryman struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, and this personal anguish often shines through in his poetry, giving it a brutal honesty and remarkable emotional depth.