The Minute After
The poem explores the theme of existential crisis and the search for meaning in life. It describes a moment of intense introspection, where the speaker reflects on their existence, feeling disconnected from the world and struggling to find purpose. The poem's tone is melancholic and contemplative, with the speaker questioning the nature of reality and their place within it.
By Carlos Drummond de Andrade · First published 1984 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Literary Fiction · 97 words
First lines
With only nakedness, its final veil, the soul's still out of reach.
The body's fertile language can't detect or interpret it.
Beyond the skin, muscles, nerves, blood, and bones, our soul shuns intimate contact, the floral wedding, the deifying embrace of matter forever intoxicated by the sublime act of union.
We're but starving beggar who barely sniff the crumbs that banquet in the clouds celebrated by our flesh.
What this Textopian page supports
The Minute After is listed on Textopian as a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, dated 1984 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Carlos Drummond de Andrade
- Date: 1984 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Literary Fiction, Psychological
- Length: 97 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Minute After by Carlos Drummond de Andrade
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Minute After?
- How does this poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- You Carry The World On Your Shoulders by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Looking For What by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Swipe Of The Sword by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Sadness In Heaven by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Destruction by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- John Cabanis by Edgar Lee Masters
Genres
- Poetry — The text uses poetic language, metaphors, and imagery to convey deep emotions and abstract concepts.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential questions about the soul, body, and the nature of human experience.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style and thematic depth align with literary fiction, focusing on introspective and complex narratives.
- Psychological — The exploration of human emotions and the psyche is central to the text.
Tags
Poetry · Brazilian Literature · Modernism · Experimental Poetry · Stream-of-Consciousness · Free Verse · Philosophical Themes · Existential Crisis · Time and Space · Human Condition · Mortality · Self-Discovery