Description
Requiem
Book Summary
This bilingual edition of Requiem presents the crowning achievement of the Brazilian poet Lêdo Ivo, translated and introduced by Martín López-Vega. Considered the pinnacle of his poetic production, the work is a lyrical confrontation with death, not as a phenomenon opposite to life, but as its constant reverse side. Through refined and visionary language, Ivo explores the transience of light and shadow, the ash that inhabits all things, and the inescapable presence of the end in every moment. The volume is completed with texts by Gonçalo Ivo and Edgar Lyra that delve into the figure of the poet and his relationship with death.
What is it about?
Requiem is a long poem that functions as a sustained meditation on mortality. Lêdo Ivo constructs a work where death is not a singular event, but a dimension that permeates existence itself. Through powerful imagery and restrained musicality, the poet examines how the end dwells in everyday objects, in memory, and in the passage of time. The poem moves between serene acceptance and philosophical inquiry, offering a vision where life and death merge into the same substance. The bilingual edition allows one to appreciate the musicality of the Portuguese original alongside the precision of the Spanish version, while the epilogues contextualize the work within the author's trajectory and thought.
Main Themes
- Death as the reverse of life and not its negation.
- The transience of time and the presence of ash in all things.
- Memory as a space where light and shadow converge.
- Philosophical inquiry into the end of existence.
- Poetry as a vehicle to face the inevitable.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers of contemporary poetry interested in works of great philosophical and existential depth. It is especially suitable for those seeking a profound reflection on mortality from a lyrical perspective, far from dogmas or easy consolations. It will also be of interest to scholars of Brazilian literature and those who wish to discover the work of one of the fundamental poets of the 20th century in the Portuguese language. The bilingual edition makes it a valuable tool both for readers familiar with Portuguese and for those who wish to approach the original.
What this book offers
- One of the summits of contemporary Brazilian poetry, recognized as the masterpiece of Lêdo Ivo.
- A poetic meditation that invites reflection on death from an integrative, non-tragic perspective.
- A carefully translated bilingual edition that allows for the appreciation of both the original and the Spanish version.
- Supplementary texts by Gonçalo Ivo and Edgar Lyra that enrich the understanding of the poem and the author.
- A reading experience that combines high literary demands with deep emotional resonance.
Technical Details
- Author: Ivo, Lêdo
- Publisher: El Gallo de Oro Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Poetry, Poetry by individual poets
- Collection: Gallo Rojo Poesia Otros Idiomas
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: February 2017
- Number of pages: 84
- Weight: 146 g
Editorial Review
Requiem is presented as an essential work for poetry lovers seeking a text of maturity and depth. Lêdo Ivo manages to turn a reflection on death into a vital song, where the poetic word confronts the ineffable with moving clarity. The edition, carefully prepared by Martín López-Vega, offers the Spanish-speaking reader a privileged gateway to the work of a poet who deserves a prominent place in the contemporary canon. It is a book that, due to its intensity and formal beauty, rewards deliberate reading and rereading.