“They will pass… I'm a bird!”, you've certainly come across verses like these throughout your life, even if you're not the biggest fan of poetry. The verses above are part of “Poeminha do contra” by Mário Quintana, which is among the best known small poems in Brazil.
Famous, many of them have excerpts widely disseminated in different spheres of Brazilian society, as is the example of “Soneto da Fidelidade” by Vinícius de Moraes. Others, such as “Cantiga para não morte” by Ferreira Gullar, were set to music and performed by different artists.
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For those who appreciate this art, we have selected ten small poems. Most of them are by Brazilian writers, but there is also an example of the work of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who is considered one of the greatest of this genre in all times.
1. Poem of the Contra – Mário Quintana
All those who are there
blocking my way,
They will pass...
I little bird!
2. Run of life – Guimarães Rosa
The rush of life envelops everything.
That's life: it heats up and cools down,
tighten and then loosen,
quiet and then restless.
What she wants from us is courage…
3. Reflection – Pablo Neruda
If I am loved
the more loved
I respond more to love.
If I am forgotten
I must forget too
Because love is like a mirror
It has to have a reflection.
4. Loyalty Sonnet – Vinícius de Moraes
Of everything, to my love I will be attentive
Before, and with such zeal, and always, and so much
That even in the face of the greatest charm
My thought is more enchanted by him.
I want to live it in every single moment
And in praise I will spread my song
And laugh my laughter and shed my tears
Your grief or your contentment.
And so, when you look for me later
Who knows death, anguish of those who live
Who knows loneliness, the end of those you love.
I can tell myself about the love (that I had):
That it is not immortal, since it is flame
But let it be infinite while it lasts.
5. Memory – Carlos Drummond de Andrade
love the lost
leaves confused
this heart.
nothing can forget
against the meaningless
appeal of No.
the tangible things
become insensitive
to the palm.
But things ended,
much more than beautiful,
these will stay.
6. Song not to die – Ferreira Gullar
When you go away,
snow white girl
take me.
In case you can't
carry me by the hand,
snow white girl,
take me in the heart.
If in the heart you can't
take me by chance
girl of dream and snow,
take me in your remembering.
And if you can't either
for as much as it takes
already live in your mind,
snow white girl,
take me into oblivion.
7. Reason – Cecília Meireles
I sing because the instant exists
and my life is complete.
I am not happy nor am I sad:
I'm a poet.
Brother of elusive things,
I feel neither pleasure nor torment.
I go through nights and days
in the wind.
Whether I crumble or I build,
if I stay or if I disappear,
- I do not know I do not know. I don't know if I stay
or step.
I know I sing. And the song is everything.
The rhythmic wing has eternal blood.
And one day I know I'll be mute:
- nothing more.
8. Feelings – Rubem Alves
We are masters of our actions
but not masters of our feelings.
We are to blame for what we do
but not how we feel.
We can promise deeds,
but we can't promise feelings.
Acts are caged birds.
Feelings are birds in flight.
9. Happy People – Clarice Lispector
The happiest people
they have the best stuff.
They know how to make the best of
opportunities that appear
in your ways.
Happiness appears to
those who cry.
For those who get hurt.
For those who seek
and they always try.
10. To my eternal girlfriend – Antônio Bezerra
remember every moment
unique and true
With you by my side
We will be very happy
Loving us all.
Today, yesterday and tomorrow.
We will always be together
remembering what happened
Hope is what's left
In the intense life lived
We will love for a lifetime.