Pedro's Literature Club

A safe space for literature enthusiasts to interact, discuss and discover new texts and ideas.

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Introduction

Hi everyone, this is my first post here at Pedro’s Literature Club. I would like to say that I am very excited to interact and discuss this lovely theme with anyone, so please contact me if you’d like to.

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TOP FIVE POETS

#1!!! - Luís de Camões

Luis Vaz de Camões (c., 1524-1580) was a Portuguese classicist poet and sonnetist that wrote the most important piece of literature in Portugal's history: the epic poem "Os Lusíadas". Rivaled only by Fernando Pessoa in greatness, Camões' work has passed generations and till this day is a essential a part of Portuguese culture and literature. I am always fascinanted by his ability to structure words and phrases in a perfect way without losing the deepness of the meanings intended. He is my favorite poet by far and, therefore, I am not capable of choosing a single poem to be the best, so I will just leave one below for you guys to look up for more.

Amor é um fogo que arde sem se ver

Amor é fogo que arde sem se ver,

é ferida que dói, e não se sente;

é um contentamento descontente,

é dor que desatina sem doer.

É um não querer mais que bem querer;

é um andar solitário entre a gente;

é nunca contentar-se de contente;

é um cuidar que ganha em se perder.

É querer estar preso por vontade;

é servir a quem vence, o vencedor;

é ter com quem nos mata, lealdade.

Mas como causar pode seu favor

nos corações humanos amizade,

se tão contrário a si é o mesmo Amor

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TOP FIVE POETS

#2 - Edgar Allan Poe

Probably the most famous American poet, Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was a not only a poet, he was also a writer, editor and literary critic. Regarded by many as the greatest poet of Romanticism in the United States, Poe was also considered to be one of the creators and stablishers of short stories in the United States and in the whole world. With a sad life and great works, I admire Poe not only as a poet but also as great creator of tendencies in literature.

A dream within dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!

And, in parting from you now,

Thus much let me avow —

You are not wrong, who deem

That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away

In a night, or in a day,

In a vision, or in none,

Is it therefore the less gone? 

All that we see or seem

Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar

Of a surf-tormented shore,

And I hold within my hand

Grains of the golden sand —

How few! yet how they creep

Through my fingers to the deep,

While I weep — while I weep!

O God! Can I not grasp

Them with a tighter clasp?

O God! can I not save

One from the pitiless wave?

Is all that we see or seem

But a dream within a dream?

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TOP FIVE POETS

#3 - Gregório de Matos

Gregório de Matos (1636-1696), also known as "Boca do Inferno" - "Hell Mouth", in free translation - was a Brazillian poet of the Barroque Era. Living in a time previous to the official consolidation of literature in Brazil, Gregório was the only representative of his movement in his country. Very critical of the government's attitudes and corruption, was later exiled from Bahia, his homestate, due to his poems and manifestations. For me, his best poem is the following:

Inconstância nas coisas do mundo!

Nasce o Sol, e não dura mais que um dia,

Depois da Luz se segue a noite escura,

Em tristes sombras morre a formosura,

Em contínuas tristezas a alegria.

 

Porém se acaba o Sol, por que nascia?

Se formosa a Luz é, por que não dura?

Como a beleza assim se transfigura?

Como o gosto da pena assim se fia?

Mas no Sol, e na Luz, falte a firmeza,

Na formosura não se dê constância,

E na alegria sinta-se tristeza.

Começa o mundo enfim pela ignorância,

E tem qualquer dos bens por natureza

A firmeza somente na inconstância

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TOP FIVE POETS

#4 - Castro Alves

Castro Alves (1847-1871) was a Brazillian poet born in Salvador, Bahia. Part of the third generation of Romanticism in Brazil, Castro Alves was the main name of his generation, writing from beatiful and passionate love poems, to critic and revolutionary anti-slavery ones. I like him a lot due to the ease he seems to have with creating sensations in the reader and the dramaticism he puts in his works.

Boa Noite

Boa noite, Maria! Eu vou,me embora.

A lua nas janelas bate em cheio.

Boa noite, Maria! É tarde... é tarde. .

Não me apertes assim contra teu seio.

Boa noite! ... E tu dizes - Boa noite.

Mas não digas assim por entre beijos...

Mas não mo digas descobrindo o peito,

— Mar de amor onde vagam meus desejos!

Julieta do céu! Ouve... a calhandra

já rumoreja o canto da matina.

Tu dizes que eu menti? ... pois foi mentira...

Quem cantou foi teu hálito, divina!

Se a estrela-d'alva os derradeiros raios

Derrama nos jardins do Capuleto,

Eu direi, me esquecendo d'alvorada:

"É noite ainda em teu cabelo preto..."

É noite ainda! Brilha na cambraia

— Desmanchado o roupão, a espádua nua

O globo de teu peito entre os arminhos

Como entre as névoas se balouça a lua. . .

É noite, pois! Durmamos, Julieta!

Recende a alcova ao trescalar das flores.

Fechemos sobre nós estas cortinas...

— São as asas do arcanjo dos amores.

A frouxa luz da alabastrina lâmpada

Lambe voluptuosa os teus contornos...

Oh! Deixa-me aquecer teus pés divinos

Ao doudo afago de meus lábios mornos.

Mulher do meu amor! Quando aos meus beijos

Treme tua alma, como a lira ao vento,

Das teclas de teu seio que harmonias,

Que escalas de suspiros, bebo atento!

Ai! Canta a cavatina do delírio,

Ri, suspira, soluça, anseia e chora. . .

Marion! Marion!... É noite ainda.

Que importa os raios de uma nova aurora?!...

Como um negro e sombrio firmamento,

Sobre mim desenrola teu cabelo...

E deixa-me dormir balbuciando:

— Boa noite! — formosa Consuelo.

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TOP FIVE POETS

#5 - William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827) was an english poet (but also a painter and printmaker!) born in London, England. Nowadays, he is considered a symbol of the poetry and plastic arts of the Romantic Movement in England. He wrote various poems and painted many beautiful pieces of art. His most famous painting (shown below) is called "The Ancient of Days" and my favorite poem of his is called "The Tyger".

The Tyger

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 

In the forests of the night; 

What immortal hand or eye, 

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. 

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain, 

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp, 

Dare its deadly terrors clasp! 

When the stars threw down their spears 

And water'd heaven with their tears: 

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright, 

In the forests of the night: 

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

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TOP FIVE POETS

Hi guys, the nexts posts will be about my 5 favorite poets. Hope you all like it!