Mensagem/MessageMessage ("Mensagem") was the only book of verse in his own language that Pessoa saw through the press in his lifetime. On the face of it, a patriotic sequence steeped in 'Sebastianismo', the poems offer much more than this, the Kings and navigators of the Portugal's history standing as avatars of the poet's self, their explorations and heroic deeds projections of the poet's inner creative life. Although Pessoa is famous for the many heteronyms under which he composed verse in wildly different styles, this volume was published under his own name - the 'orthonym', as he defined it - and it remains one of his great masterpieces. This edition brings Jonathn Griffin's fine translation (originally published by the Menard Press in 1992) back into print, as part of Shearsman's Pessoa edition. |
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Common terms and phrases
alma ancia body céu Christ claro clear corpo Cross dance dawn dead deep destiny Deus Distance dream Earth El-Rei Empire entire eras espada eternal eyes face Fernando Pessoa FIFTH future give given gloria hand hear Helder helm HENRIQUE heroe Hidden History homem hora hour ilha Imperio INFANTE Isle Italy João Segundo Jonathan Griffin's King knowing land leme lies Lift light live longing Lord Macedo mão Mensagem mist mostrengo mundo Mysterio myth não never night noite novo once onde passed past poder poem poet poetry Portugal Portuguese present quem raised Rise round sail Sebastião SECOND Senhor ship sleep sonho soul sound standard sword symbol terra thing THIRD translation Trez universal veil vida voice whole written