The poet is a forger: three Hephaestean moments in Drummond's lyrics

Abstract

The present work stems from a play on words with a poem by Fernando Pessoa and a reference to the Greek mythology god Hephaestus, aiming to underscore the deliberate nature of composition in terms of form and content in three instances of Carlos Drummond de Andrade's lyrical works: “Poesia” from Alguma poesia, “Procura da poesia” from A rosa do povo, and “Oficina irritada” from Claro enigma. The comparison of these three poems aims to highlight how, over a span of twenty years, the poetry of the Itabira-born poet crafted new forms to engage with content influenced by the historical and social context surrounding his poetic endeavors. It recognizes that, despite challenges in extracting poetry from its realm of words and its transitive limitations in a fragmented world, art remains a viable means to interpret life.