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THE CLOCK O RELÓGIO João Cabral de Melo Neto Translation by Rosaliene Bacchus
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Caged by fixed doctrines, rejecting changes in norms. Time an enemy.
HAIKU POEM ROSALIENE BACCHUS
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All around the life of man there are certain glass boxes, in which, as in an animal cage, one hears an animal pulsating.
If they are animal cages it is not certain; they are more like birdcages at least in size and quadratic form.
Sometimes, such birdcages are hung on walls; other times, the more personal, go in the pocket, on the wrists.
But wherever it should be: the birdcage be it of bird or turkey: it is winged pulsation, the saltation it secures;
and of the songbird, not bird plumage: for from them comes a song of such continuity
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BRAZILIAN POET (1920-1999)
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…I have the impression that poetry is a language for
sensitivity, above all. A concrete word, therefore, has
more poetic power than an abstract word. Concrete than
sadness, melancholy or nostalgia. But it’s impossible not
to express subjectivity. So, the poet’s obligation is to
express subjectivity but not directly. He doesn’t have to
say "I'm sorry." He has to find an image that gives the
idea of sadness or mood - whatever it is - through
concrete words and not simply confessing "I'm sad.”
I say [the function of the artist is to] "make visible" [not
to denounce] because the poet must show reality
without taking sides. You show the reality. Each person
sees it as they wish… Administrators, politicians,
whosoever, resolve whatever injustice exists in this
reality. It’s not the obligation of the artist.
JOÃO CABRAL DE MELO NETO during an interview with Geneton Moraes
Neto in 1986. Translation by Rosaliene Bacchus.
PERNAMBUCO BRAZIL Audio in English DURATION: 11:39 MINUTES
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PERNAMBUCO is
located in Northeast
Brazil. With a
population of almost
9 million, it's the
seventh largest state.
RECIFE, the capital,
has the largest
metropolitan area in
the north &
northeast regions
and fifth largest in
Brazil.
Learn more.
O Relógio
João Cabral de Melo Neto
Ao redor da vida do homem
há certas caixas de vidro,
dentro das quais, como em jaula,
se ouve palpitar um bicho.
Se são jaulas não é certo;
mais perto estão das gaiolas
ao menos, pelo tamanho
e quadradiço de forma.
Umas vezes, tais gaiolas
vão penduradas nos muros;
outras vezes, mais privadas,
vão num bolso, num dos pulsos.
Mas onde esteja: a gaiola
será de pássaro ou pássara:
é alada a palpitação,
a saltação que ela guarda;
e de pássaro cantor,
não pássaro de plumagem:
pois delas se emite um canto
de uma tal continuidade
SOURCE: The Ten Best Poems by João Cabral de
Melo Neto, BULA REVISTA, Brazil.
JOÃO CABRAL DE MELO
NETO, born in Recife,
Pernambuco, is a
Brazilian poet and
former career foreign
diplomat.
His life as a poet
began when, at 18
years, he frequented a
literary group at a local
cafe.
Two years later, when
he moved with his
family to Rio de
Janeiro. he was
introduced to Carlos
Drummond de Andrade
(1902-1987), one of
Brazil's most influential
poets of the 20th
century, and a circle of
intellectuals.
In 1942, he published
his first collection of
poems, Pedra do Sono
(Sleep Stone).
After entering the
diplomatic service in
1945, he served in
several countries
worldwide, rising to
positions of General
Consul and
Ambassador.
In 1968, the
poet-diplomat, who
received several
awards for his poetry
and other publications,
was elected a member
of the Brazilian
Academy of Letters.
For more information,
see RELEITURAS.
RECIFE CAPITAL OF PERNAMBUCO DURATION: 6:14 MINUTES
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JOÃO CABRAL DE MELO NETO - DE LÁ PRA CÁ - Part One/Two TV BRASIL 2009 Audio in Portuguese DURATION: 19:42 MINUTES
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