The poem explores the tension between the individual's desire for freedom and the oppressive forces of society. It describes a world where people are trapped in their daily routines, suffocated by the monotony of life, and longing for a revolutionary change. The "swipe of the sword" is a metaphor for the violent and necessary act that would shatter the status quo and bring about transformation.
By Carlos Drummond de Andrade · First published 1945 · Genre: Poetry, Drama, Philosophical Fiction