When I do Think my Meanest Line Shall Be

Name: When I do Think my Meanest Line Shall Be
Author: Fernando Pessoa

The poem explores the tension between the act of creation and the perception of one's work over time. The speaker reflects on the idea that their most insignificant lines may resonate more profoundly with future readers than their most significant creations. This notion evokes a sense of frustration and anger towards the nature of existence and the limitations of expression. The speaker grapples with the fear that their true essence may not be captured in their writing, leading to a feeling of despair and a struggle to articulate their inner turmoil. The work delves into themes of legacy, the search for meaning, and the inadequacy of language to convey the depth of human experience. The speaker's emotional state oscillates between hope for future recognition and a profound sense of existential dread, highlighting the complexities of artistic ambition and the desire for connection across time. Ultimately, the poem serves as a meditation on the relationship between the creator, their creations, and the audience, questioning the permanence of art and the fleeting nature of understanding.

By Fernando Pessoa · First published 1925 · Genre: Poetry, Existentialism, Modernism · 162 words

First lines

When I do think my meanest line shall be

More in Time's use than my creating whole, That future eyes more clearly shall feel me In this inked page than in my direct soul; When I conjecture put to make me seeing Good readers of me in some aftertime, Thankful to some idea of my being That doth not even my with gone true soul rime; An anger at the essence of the world, That makes this thus, or thinkable this wise, Takes my soul by the throat and makes it hurled In nightly horrors of despaired surmise, And I become the mere sense of a rage That lacks the very words whose waste might 'suage.

What this Textopian page supports

When I do Think my Meanest Line Shall Be is listed on Textopian as a poem by Fernando Pessoa, dated 1925 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Fernando Pessoa
Date: 1925 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Existentialism, Modernism, Lyrical, Philosophical
Length: 162 words
Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Confusing

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on emotional expression and aesthetic form.
Existentialism — Themes of identity, existence, and the human condition are central, reflecting existential concerns.
Modernism — The style and themes reflect modernist characteristics, including fragmentation and a focus on subjective experience.
Lyrical — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyrical poetry.