You Carry the World on Your Shoulders
The poem explores the idea of individual responsibility and the weight of the world's problems on a single person's shoulders. It delves into the feelings of anxiety, desperation, and hopelessness that come with carrying this burden. The speaker describes the crushing pressure of the world's expectations, the impossibility of fulfilling them, and the subsequent sense of guilt and inadequacy.
By Carlos Drummond de Andrade · First published 1940 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical Literature, Modernist Literature · 203 words
First lines
A time comes when you stop saying: my God.
A time of absolute purification.
A time when you stop saying: my love.
Because love proved to be useless.
What this Textopian page supports
You Carry the World on Your Shoulders is listed on Textopian as a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, dated 1940 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: 1940 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical Literature, Modernist Literature, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 203 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for You Carry the World on Your Shoulders 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 You Carry the World on Your Shoulders?
- 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
- Sadness In Heaven by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Multitudinous Heart by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Garden by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Feeling Of The World by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- The Bodys Contradictions by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- The Ox by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in a poetic style with a focus on imagery, emotion, and philosophical reflection.
- Philosophical Literature — The themes revolve around existential questions, the meaning of life, and the human condition.
- Modernist Literature — The writing style and themes align with modernist concerns such as alienation, the breakdown of traditional values, and introspection.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the inner thoughts and emotional states of the protagonist, exploring psychological depth.
Tags
Poetry · Brazilian Literature · Modernism · Philosophical · Existential Crisis · Human Condition · Societal Pressure · Individuality · Responsibility · Free Verse · Lyrical · Contemplative