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

8
Altemar Pontes de Oliveira

Altemar Pontes de Oliveira is a Brazilian poet whose works frequently explore the relationship between memory, identity, and landscape, both geographical and interior. His poetry is marked by imagistic language and a sensitivity that captures the nuances of everyday life and human emotions. With a body of work that delves into the poetic reflection of existence, Pontes de Oliveira constructs a literary universe that resonates with its authenticity and its ability to evoke deep feelings in the reader.

Bernadete Soares

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José Maria Nascimento

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Tristan Corbière

Tristan Corbière was a French poet, born in 1845 and died in 1875. He is known for his work "Les Amours Jaunes", published posthumously. His poetry is characterized by an innovative and often dark style, exploring themes such as loneliness, death, and the human condition.

Conde de Monsaraz

The Count of Monsaraz, a figure linked to nobility and literary production, left a poetic legacy that fits into the aesthetic currents of his time. His work explores themes of a historical and lyrical nature, reflecting a particular vision of society and human emotions. With a style that sometimes approaches court poetry and at other times allows for greater expressive freedom, the Count of Monsaraz contributed to the literary landscape with a distinct voice.

Adalberto Alves

Adalberto Alves is a contemporary Portuguese poet and writer, known for his lyrical and reflective work. His poetry explores themes such as memory, time, identity, and the human condition, often with an introspective and melancholic approach. With careful language and a refined style, Adalberto Alves has been consolidating his place in contemporary Portuguese poetry. His literary career spans various publications, which have earned him recognition from critics and readers. His work is marked by refined sensitivity and the ability to evoke deep emotions through verses that combine formal beauty with a strong existential charge.

Died on this day

7
Francesco Petrarca

Francesco Petrarca was an Italian scholar and poet, considered one of the founders of Humanism and one of the greatest lyric poets in Western literature. His work "Il Canzoniere" is a collection of poems, predominantly sonnets, dedicated to Laura, his inspirational muse, and explores themes such as platonic love, female beauty, the transience of time, and the pursuit of glory and salvation. Petrarca is revered for his formal mastery, especially in the use of the sonnet, which he perfected and popularized, influencing poets for centuries. His work marked a transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, emphasizing the value of the individual, classical culture, and the expression of human feelings with unprecedented depth.

Angel Guimerà

Ángel Guimerà was a Spanish playwright and poet, a central figure in Catalan theater and one of the foremost representatives of Spanish theater at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Known mainly for his theatrical work, he also cultivated poetry and narrative. His theater is characterized by dramatic force, psychological depth of his characters, and the exploration of universal themes such as passion, love, death, and fate. His work, written mostly in Catalan, had a great impact both in Spain and abroad, being translated into multiple languages and performed on international stages, which earned him recognition as one of the great playwrights of his time.

Jane Austen

Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works brilliantly satirize the British landed gentry at the turn of the 19th century. Her novels, set in the world of country estates and drawing-rooms, are celebrated for their wit, keen social observation, and nuanced exploration of marriage, class, and morality. Through memorable characters and elegant prose, Austen deftly examines the limited options available to women of her time, while championing intelligence, integrity, and genuine affection. Her enduring appeal lies in her timeless insights into human nature and social dynamics.

An egg boiled very soft is not unwholesome.