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

9
Cecília Meireles

Cecília Meireles was one of the most important poetesses in the Portuguese language, with a work marked by musicality, lyrical delicacy, and the exploration of themes such as time, ephemerality, childhood, and the search for transcendence. Her poetry, influenced by symbolism and modernism, is characterized by its apparent simplicity, but with deep philosophical and existential complexity. With a vast literary production that includes poetry, short stories, chronicles, and children's literature, Cecília Meireles left an unparalleled poetic legacy, celebrating the beauty of the world and the fragility of existence with a crystalline and imaginative language.

Maria Helena Nery Garcez

Maria Helena Nery Garcez is an author whose work is characterized by its depth in addressing social and historical themes, often intertwined with the human experience. Her writing is marked by engaging prose and attention to detail that builds rich and meaningful narratives. With a style that combines historical rigor with literary sensibility, Nery Garcez dedicates herself to exploring the complexity of human relationships and the impacts of social and political contexts on individual lives, offering the reader valuable perspectives on the past and present.

Jorge de Freitas

Jorge de Freitas was a Portuguese poet whose work is part of the literary landscape of the 20th century. Although his poetic production may not have achieved the notoriety of other contemporaries, it represents a valuable testimony to the sensitivity and aesthetic concerns of his time. His poetry is marked by a reflection on the human condition, the passage of time, and the search for meaning in a constantly changing world. Through careful language and intrinsic musicality, Freitas explored the depths of the human soul, addressing universal themes with a personal and introspective perspective.

Joan Perucho

Joan Perucho was a prominent Catalan writer and literary critic. His work is marked by rich language and overflowing imagination, exploring themes such as the fantastic, the historical, and the exotic. He is known for his elaborate prose and his ability to create unique literary universes, where reality blends with fantasy in a hypnotic way. His influence on contemporary Catalan literature is notable, and his texts continue to be appreciated for their originality and depth.

sam sax

Sam Sax is an American poet known for his work that challenges social norms and explores themes of identity, marginalization, and the body. His poetry is characterized by raw energy and direct, often provocative, language. Sax addresses issues of class, sexuality, and mental health with relentless honesty, creating poems that are both intimate and publicly resonant. His work invites a re-evaluation of power structures and the lived experiences of those on the margins.

Julián del Casal

Cuban poet of great relevance in the transition from Romanticism to Modernism, Julián del Casal is recognized for his profound sensitivity and the exploration of themes such as melancholy, solitude, and the fleetingness of life. His work is characterized by a careful musicality and a rich, often decadent imagery, reflecting the aesthetic currents of his time and his own introspection.

Rafael Pombo

Rafael Pombo was a Colombian poet, recognized as one of the most important in his country and in Hispanic America. His work ranges from lyrical and reflective poetry to narrative verse and children's poems, demonstrating great versatility and mastery in the use of language. Pombo is famous for his "moral tales" in verse, which combine humor, wit, and profound popular wisdom, as well as for his more intimate and spiritual poems, where he explores themes such as love, death, and faith. His legacy is fundamental in Colombian literature, being one of the pillars of 19th-century poetry.

Died on this day

7
Lawrence Durrell

Lawrence George Durrell (1912-1990) was a British novelist, poet, playwright, and diplomat. Born in British India, he spent much of his adult life in the Mediterranean, and his work often reflects these experiences. He is best known for his novel "The Alexandria Quartet", a tetralogy that explores the complexities of human relationships and cultural identity. Durrell was also a prolific poet and wrote travel books, essays, and memoirs. His style is characterized by rich, sensory prose and the exploration of themes such as love, war, memory, and the search for meaning.

Duque de Rivas

Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, was a multifaceted figure in Spanish literature, excelling as a poet, playwright, and politician. His work is part of Romanticism, a movement of which he was one of its greatest representatives in Spain. With works like "Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino" (Don Álvaro or the Force of Destiny), he revolutionized Spanish Romantic theater, characterized by its dramatic intensity, the conflict between destiny and free will, and the exaltation of passions. His poetry, also of a Romantic nature, explores themes such as love, freedom, history, and nature, often with a grandiloquent and emotional tone. The Duke of Rivas was not only a literary creator but also a relevant actor in the political life of his time, which influenced his worldview and his work.

Jorge Carrera Andrade

Jorge Carrera Andrade was an Ecuadorian poet recognized for his lyrical work of profound universal resonance and his commitment to the reality of his time. His poetry is characterized by a cosmic and telluric vision, where nature, the American landscape, and the great forces of the universe intertwine with reflection on the human condition, love, death, and history. He developed a vigorous yet intimate style, with a language that combines imagistic precision with deep emotion, establishing him as one of the most important poetic voices in 20th-century Hispanic America.