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.
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Born on this day

13
David Mourão-Ferreira

David Mourão-Ferreira was a prominent Portuguese poet, writer, and literary critic. His poetic work, marked by profound lyrical sensitivity and refined formal rigor, explored themes such as love, time, and the ephemerality of existence, often with a pure language and unparalleled musicality. In addition to his vast literary production, David Mourão-Ferreira was actively involved in criticism and cultural promotion, leaving a significant legacy in the Portuguese literary landscape.

Oliveira Roma

Oliveira Roma is a poet associated with interventionist poetry and social criticism, with a body of work that reflects strong civic and political engagement. His writing addresses societal contradictions, the struggle for freedom, and the pursuit of justice, using direct and interventionist language. The poet is recognized for his ability to give voice to the oppressed and to question power structures, offering a critical perspective on reality, without ever losing the lyrical and human dimension.

Caetano Ximenes Aragão

Caetano Ximenes Aragão was a Brazilian poet, whose work is characterized by a strong connection to the lyrical tradition and by the exploration of themes such as love, nature, and spirituality. His poetry, although sometimes associated with more conservative currents, reveals a refined sensibility and a technical mastery of poetic form.

George Augustus Moore

George Augustus Moore was an Irish writer known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of love, art, religion, and the Irish society of his time. His realistic prose and frank approach to controversial subjects distinguished him on the literary scene.

Teófilo Braga

Teófilo Braga was a prolific Portuguese writer, poet, and politician, known for his extensive work that spans poetry, short stories, novels, and essays, with a particular emphasis on his studies of folklore and popular literature. He was a central figure in the transition between Romanticism and Realism in Portugal, and his poetry is marked by deep lyricism and a strong connection to national traditions and identity.

José Manuel de Vasconcelos

José Manuel de Vasconcelos was a poet whose work is notable for its lyrical depth and reflection on the human condition. He explored themes such as love, longing, and the passage of time, using language rich in imagery and musicality. His poetry is an invitation to introspection and contemplation of the beauty and fragility of existence.

Gonzalo Hermo

Gonzalo Hermo is a contemporary Galician writer and poet, known for his exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and human relationships in his work. His writing is distinguished by its sensitivity and ability to evoke deep emotions in the reader, addressing the human condition with an introspective and sometimes melancholic perspective. As a poet and prose writer, Hermo has built a literary career that reflects a deep engagement with the Galician language and culture. His work invites reflection on existence, time, and the bonds that unite us, consolidating him as a relevant voice in contemporary literature.

Mariano Brull. Cuba

Mariano Brull was a Cuban poet whose work is mainly associated with creacionismo and the literary avant-gardes of the early 20th century. His poetry is distinguished by a constant search for formal and thematic novelty, exploring the poetic image as the central element of creation. He was a promoter of the avant-gardes in Cuba and a poet who sought to integrate modernity and experimentation into his work. His legacy remains as a reference for the innovative Cuban poetry of his time.

Luis Herrero de Tejada

Spanish poet, Luis Herrero de Tejada was distinguished by his lyrical work that often explored introspection and melancholy. His poetry is characterized by its careful form and evocative language, reflecting the concerns of his time. Throughout his career, he contributed to the Spanish literary scene with poems that explored the transience of life and the search for meaning.

Matilde Alba Swann

Matilde Alba Swann was an Argentine writer and poet recognized for her lyrical work and her commitment to national identity. Her poetry is characterized by a deep connection with nature, the land, and Argentine traditions, expressed through evocative and musical language. Swann explored themes such as love, solitude, melancholy, and the beauty of the Pampas landscape, leaving a legacy of poems that celebrate the essence of Argentine identity and the richness of its natural environment.

Died on this day

7
Pedro de Calasans

Pedro de Calasans was a poet whose work is part of the panorama of Brazilian poetry. He stood out for his exploration of lyrical and existential themes, using a language that, at times, echoed tradition, but also opened itself to formal experimentation. His poetry is marked by profound sensitivity and a constant search for the expression of the nuances of the human soul. His legacy, although sometimes associated with more restricted circles, represents a valuable contribution to the diversity of Portuguese-language poetry, reflecting a period of literary effervescence and questioning about the art of writing itself.

António Pinho

António Pinho was a Portuguese poet whose work manifests in less explored contexts of Lusophone literature. His poetry, although it may not have achieved great media projection, contributes to the diversity of voices and poetic expressions in Portuguese. His poetic activity is part of a broader literary panorama, reflecting the concerns and sensitivities of a time and a specific cultural context.

Hugo Rocha

Hugo Rocha is a name associated with contemporary poetry, exploring the complexities of human existence through an imagery and reflective language. His work often focuses on themes such as memory, identity, and the ephemerality of time, using an approach that combines introspection with attentive observation of the surrounding world. Rocha's poetry is characterized by its musicality and its ability to evoke deep sensations, inviting the reader on a journey of inner discovery. His work has been consolidating itself in the literary landscape, marking itself by originality and the sensitivity with which it addresses the human condition.

Philippe Jaccottet

Philippe Jaccottet was a French-language Swiss poet and essayist, widely recognized for his lyrical and reflective work. His poetry explores the relationship between man and nature, the passage of time, memory, and the search for a more attentive gaze upon the world. Jaccottet also distinguished himself as a translator and literary critic, leaving a significant intellectual legacy.