The poem explores the theme of existential crisis and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. The ox, a symbol of strength and labor, is portrayed as exhausted, worn out, and helpless, reflecting the speaker's feelings of despair and disillusionment. Through the ox's plight, the poet conveys the futility of human existence and the struggle to find purpose in life.
By Carlos Drummond de Andrade · First published 1942 · Genre: Poetry, Existentialism, Modernism