Primeiros Poemas, by João Cabral, as if a book were possible, even if it is mutant

Abstract

In 1990, the publication of Primeiros poemas, by João Cabral de Melo Neto, comprised a brochure consisting of three parts. When Obra completa (1994) was published, it was moved to the Appendix with only one of those three original parts, excluding the poem "Trouxe ao sol à poesia". When the author's poetic production was reprinted with the indication of Poesia completa (1997), not only that poem but the whole book was excluded. The poems only returned to the poet's writings in the following reissue, under the seal of Poesia completa e prosa (2008). By comparing the three editions and taking the poem that fluctuates in the work as a reference, this paper offers some speculation to confer particular meaning to the specific volume through the the author’s poetic path. By way of illustration, the analysis of "Trouxe ao sol à poesia" is carried out under the analytical counterpoint of Gregório de Matos e Guerra’s sonnet, which first verse is "Nasce o sol, e não dura mais que um dia", retrospectively projecting the cabralian poetry beyond modernity, inscribing his work in a more remote tradition.