Dylan Thomas
Author of the day

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas was a celebrated Welsh poet whose vivid imagery, lyrical intensity, and unique use of language captivated readers worldwide. His work, often characterized by its passionate exploration of life, death, love, and nature, combined a deep connection to his Welsh heritage with a modernist sensibility. Despite a tragically short and often tumultuous life, his poems possess an enduring power and musicality that have secured his place as one of the 20th century's most important poets.

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

16
Reinaldo Ferreira

Reinaldo Ferreira was a Brazilian poet, considered one of the precursors of Modernism in Brazil. His work is marked by formal and thematic experimentation, exploring urban life and subjectivity in an innovative way for the time. He was also a journalist and literary critic, contributing significantly to the cultural debate of his time.

Alice Gomes

Alice Gomes is a young contemporary Portuguese poet, recognized for her sensitive and introspective writing. Her poetic work explores themes such as identity, human emotions, the passage of time, and the relationship with the world, often from a lyrical and confessional perspective. Her poetic voice has been winning a growing audience, both in print and digital format.

Friedrich Hölderlin

Friedrich Hölderlin was one of the most important poets of German Romanticism. His work, profoundly marked by the influence of Ancient Greece and the search for an aesthetic and spiritual ideal, is characterized by an elevated and musical language. His reflections on nature, homeland, and human destiny, often expressed in odes and hymns, reveal a deep melancholy and an incessant search for lost harmony. His life was marked by a mental collapse that distanced him from literary activity in the last decades of his existence.

Ovídio

Ovid was a highly influential Roman poet during the Augustan period. He is best known for his epic narrative poem, the *Metamorphoses*, a continuous mythological narrative in fifteen books. His works, characterized by wit, elegance, and a deep understanding of human nature and classical mythology, have had a profound and lasting impact on Western literature and art.

Elegy V
Carlos Figueiredo

Carlos Figueiredo is a Brazilian poet known for his work that frequently explores the human condition, the passage of time, and introspection. His poetry is characterized by careful language, sometimes melancholic, but always with a deep sensitivity to the nuances of existence.

Menotti del Picchia

Menotti del Picchia was a Brazilian writer, poet, painter, and journalist, a prominent figure of the 1922 Modern Art Week. Known for his versatility, he moved through various literary genres, exploring themes such as nationalism, mysticism, and the human condition. His work is marked by a vibrant and expressive style, with a strong appeal to musicality and imagery, reflecting the concerns of his time and the search for a Brazilian cultural identity.

Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen was a prominent Norwegian playwright, widely regarded as one of the cornerstones of modernism in theatre. His works are known for their deep exploration of human psychology, social criticism, and engagement with themes such as morality, identity, and social conventions. Ibsen revolutionized drama by introducing psychological realism and character complexity that influenced generations of writers.

The worst enemy of truth and freedom in our societ
Everardo Norões

Everardo Norões was a Brazilian poet, known for his work marked by lyrical intensity and the profound exploration of existential and social themes. His poetry is distinguished by its expressive force, sonority, and reflection on the human condition in a context of transformations. Norões' work is an invitation to contemplate life, love, politics, and ephemerality, using a language that ranges between the colloquial and the erudite. He is an author whose writing remains relevant due to his ability to touch upon universal issues with an authentic voice.

Alice Vieira

Alice Vieira is a prominent Portuguese writer, recognized for her extensive work primarily aimed at children's and young adult literature, but also with significant contributions to adult literature. Her writing is characterized by sensitivity, intelligence, and a keen eye for the issues of childhood, adolescence, and social life. With a literary career spanning decades, Alice Vieira addresses themes such as friendship, family, the challenges of growing up, discovering the world, and the importance of imagination. Her ability to connect with young readers, using accessible and captivating language, has established her as one of the most important and beloved voices in Portuguese-language literature.

César Leal

César Leal was a Brazilian intellectual, known for his work as a professor, critic, and writer. His work was characterized by erudition and the depth of his analyses of literature and culture. Leal dedicated himself to the in-depth study of various authors and literary movements, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and the formation of critical thinking.

Franca Grisoni

Franca Grisoni was an Italian writer and poet, known for her work that delves into the complexities of the human condition, with lyrical and reflective language. Her writing often explores interpersonal relationships, memory, and the passage of time, with a keen eye for the nuances of daily life. Her work stands out for its ability to evoke emotions and create dense atmospheres, inviting the reader to deep introspection. Grisoni established herself as an important voice in contemporary Italian literature, offering a sensitive and insightful perspective on existence.

John Greening

John Greening is a British poet and literary critic. His poetic work is known for its clarity, intelligence, and for addressing themes ranging from the observation of everyday life to reflections on the nature of art and poetry. As a critic, Greening has contributed insightful analyses of contemporary literature, establishing himself as a respected voice in the British literary scene.

Luis Palés Matos

Luis Palés Matos was a central figure in 20th-century Puerto Rican and Latin American poetry, known primarily as the foremost exponent of "Afro-Antilleanism" in lyric poetry. His work is characterized by the fusion of African, Antillean, and Spanish elements, creating poetry of great musicality, sensuality, and vitality. Through rich and evocative language, he explored themes such as Caribbean identity, the sensuality of tropical nature, and the influence of African culture on the soul of the Caribbean. His poetry is a celebration of life, race, and the land of his birth, marked by unmistakable rhythm and sonority.

Inés Arredondo

Inés Arredondo was a distinguished Mexican writer whose work is primarily inscribed in the genre of short stories and novellas. Her writing is characterized by a deep exploration of the human psyche, often tinged with gothic, fantastic, and psychological horror elements. Through precise and evocative language, Arredondo addressed themes such as loneliness, madness, social repression, and desire, creating dense and disturbing atmospheres. Her style, often considered ahead of its time, places her as a crucial figure in 20th-century Latin American literature. Her stories, although brief, possess an intensity and depth that invite multiple readings, exploring the darkest corners of existence and the human condition.

Died on this day

5
Gastão Cruz

Gastão Cruz was a Portuguese poet and literary critic, known for his refined and intellectualized poetry. His work explores themes such as memory, time, language, and the ephemerality of existence, with a strong awareness of literary tradition and its reformulation. He was also an important figure in the dissemination and study of literature, with a career marked by erudition and aesthetic sensitivity.

Alexandre Dáskalos

Alexandre Dáskalos is a contemporary poet whose work is characterized by the exploration of the human condition, memory, and identity. His poetry, often dense and reflective, addresses existential themes with careful language and a strong visual charge. Dáskalos investigates the complexities of human relationships, the passage of time, and the search for meaning in a constantly changing world. His writing shows a deep sensitivity to the fragilities and grandeurs of being. His poetry, which dialogues with literary tradition while opening up to new forms of expression, has been recognized for its originality and depth. Dáskalos contributes to the contemporary poetic landscape with an authentic voice, capable of touching the reader in their most intimate reflections on life and the universe.

Linda Gregg

Linda Gregg was an American poet revered for her lyrical and introspective work. Her poetry is known for its clarity, apparent simplicity, and emotional depth, often exploring nature, love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. She stood out for her authentic voice and her ability to capture moments of intense perception and beauty. Her work is marked by a deep attention to detail and an exploration of the connections between the inner self and the external world. Gregg left a legacy of poetry that is both gentle and powerful, resonating with readers who appreciate a contemplative and honest approach to the human experience.