Fernando Pessoa

Autopsychography

The poet is a faker. He
Fakes it so completely,
He even fakes he's suffering
The pain he's really feeling.

And they who read his writing
Fully feel while reading
Not that pain of his that's double,
But theirs, completely fictional.

So on its tracks goes round and round,
To entertain the reason,
That wound-up little train
We call the heart of man.

Fernando Pessoa (1888 - 1935)

Autopsychography is one of the most famous poem in Portuguese. It has always caused a lot of polemic both in Brazil and Portugal. Fernando Pessoa was Portuguese and he is considered a master for many poets in Portuguese spoken countries all over the world. He is in my language what Shakespeare was/is in English.I admit he has influenced me so much.I'd like some thoughts on the poem above.

In a way, that' true!

thanks for sharing, Karlaaa:)

Absolutely.

Anytime you attempt to translate emotions into language you must approximate the experience. It is like forcing ice into a blender: the finished product is nothing like the original, yet transmits similar qualities such as cold and translucence.

The same goes for reason, although we do not see the dichotomy as well. Language by itself is representational, while reason is immediate. When we speak or write we again approximate using symbolic codes for the relational paths our mind takes.

Another version of the same poem

Autopsychography" by FERNANDO PESSOA

The poet is a faker
Who's so good at his act
He even fakes the pain
Of pain he feels in fact.

And those who read his words
Will feel in what he wrote
Neither of the pains he has
But just the one they don't.

And so around its track
This thing called the heart winds,
A little clockwork train
To entertain our minds.

It is like forcing ice into a blender.

^ Well-said!