Friday, November 16, 2012

Fernando Pessoa...a literary allusion to...


Over at Meeting the Bar and  dversepoets.com  we are challenged to write in the form of literary allusion, spotlighting or referencing, answering back or emulating a well known poet's work, artist, or other literary work.  I chose Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa for his existentialist style of writing which I admire.  His prose and poetry tell of his perennial unrest and search for meaning in life.  The top quotes and short poem are my models for the poem below.
dVerse Poets Pub
1888 - 1935

“My soul is a hidden orchestra; I know not what instruments, what fiddle strings and harps, drums and tamboura I sound and clash inside myself. All I hear is the symphony.” 
― Fernando PessoaThe Book of Disquiet


“Being tired of all illusions and of everything about illusions – the loss of illusions, the uselessness of having them, the prefatigue of having to have them in order to lose them, the sadness of having had them, the intellectual shame of having had them knowing that they would have to end this way.” 
― Fernando PessoaThe Book of Disquiet

"I'm both in the midst of life and observing it from where I stand.  I am like a playing card that belongs to an ancient and unknown suit, the only remnant of a lost pack.  I have become more image than me; I return to my own self taking myself out of existence, using my soul as ink."
_ F. Pessoa

I see boats moving on the sea.
Their sails, like wings of what I see,
Bring me a vague inner desire to be
Who I was without knowing what it was.
So all recalls my home self, and, because
It recalls that, what I am aches in me
                                                 by Fernando Pessoa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



I lay down my compass by the sea
footprints left, those gone before me
Alone is what I am used to, you see 
This night I'll find stars to catch and shine
put them in my pocket for Amaranthine
wishing the Milky Way reach and take me
                                                   by klr
                                                                    
 klr in response to F. P. statements
My thoughts: His words, "I sought life's meaning in all the wrong places,"....strikes a chord with me.  I like this...and certainly, life's meaning is often wrought in strife and constant pain.  Regardless of what story this man told, the trick was to not call anyone's bluff I guess....was he really so sad?  His fear that "he had not accomplished enough" or he "left a mark of nothingness" sounds all too familiar to my ears, and it would be wrong to denounce him for that.  The "too little too late" syndrome works just fine for me, as well; and "if usefulness is measured by one's decline you will get no answers"...is also a self deprecating feeling he adheres to...it is a thread throughout his works...but a moving experience to read him and a pleasure to feel a kinship toward him.

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11 comments:

  1. I think that is the endless ache within so many of us who never stop asking questions, we need to know and understand the meaning of life. You did such a fabulous job of tying this author's work and his thoughts in with your own.
    Really enjoyed this.

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  2. oh i love that first one...putting stars in your pocket....ignoring as well i have accomplished enough...nice i really like how you did this...pairing up quotes in thought and answering them....

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  3. what a great take on the prompt. very clever, very beautiful.
    "This night I'll find some stars to catch and shine
    put in my pocket for amaranthine
    for the Milky Way to stretch, and take me"
    such great lines...

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  4. Great imitation of style and response. I had never heard of this chap== interesting. I just read about him on Wiki. Thanx for the intro.

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  5. beautiful vulnerability and surrender buoy this lovely poem. thank you for the into. to F. Pessoa

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  6. Their sails, like wings of what I see,
    Bring me a vague inner desire to be
    Who I was without knowing what it was....i just so can feel this...and i love your response...the laying the compass down...the letting go...great symbolism in this

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  7. I love how you worked this, with all the quotes and then your response. Very nicely done...I;d like to read more of him.

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  8. " This night I'll find some stars to catch and shine
    put in my pocket for amaranthine
    for the Milky Way to stretch, and take me
    "

    Beautifully expressed. Loved these intricate wordings.

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  9. This night I'll find some stars to catch and shine
    put in my pocket for amaranthine
    for the Milky Way to stretch, and take me.

    Yup, I could go along with that. I love your choice of subject and your development of it into something of your own. Superb.

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  10. "I lay my compass by the sea"--open to so many interpretations.

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  11. I love Fernando Pessoa and what you did with this exercise. so cool :) happy Thanksgiving sweetie.. xxo

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All comments, constructive and otherwise, are welcome and appreciated here. Thank you to those who show an interest in my quirky style of writing, photography, painting, and presenting a feeling or thought and for stopping by A Dwelling by the Sea..