
A vivid tapestry of imagination unfolds in this striking collection of poems, where the voice drifts between luminous visions of forgotten realms and intimate, trembling confessions. The verses weave together mythic symbols—leões, hidras, and marble statues—with the fragile pulse of personal longing, creating a landscape that feels both ancient and freshly felt.
The poet’s language ripples with musical cadence, shifting from soft whispers of sunrise to the clamor of battle‑worn castles, all while maintaining an undercurrent of yearning for connection and redemption. Images of roses, violets, and moonlit waters blend with stark reflections on loss, love, and the fleeting nature of existence.
Through its rich, sensorial language and bold, sometimes surreal imagery, the work invites listeners to wander through corridors of memory and desire, offering moments of quiet beauty alongside fierce, striking declarations. It is a journey that lingers long after the final line fades.
Full title
Clepsydra Poêmas de Camillo Pessanha
Language
pt
Duration
~15 minutes (15K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Lisboa: Edições Lusitania, Tip. da T. da Espera, 26 1920
Credits
Produced by Tiago Tejo
Release date
2007-08-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1867–1926
A leading voice of Portuguese Symbolism, he spent much of his adult life in Macau and turned a small body of poems into a lasting literary reputation. His work is remembered for its musical language, dreamlike mood, and sense of longing.
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