Notes on Portuguese poetry of the 70s: the case of Al Berto

Abstract

This article proposes to debate in general terms the Portuguese contemporay lyric, especially the one written in the 70s, using the exemplary case of Al Berto. Among the topics discussed are: the relationship between poetry and reality, the attempt to return to the real - albeit precarious, or rather, in its own precariousness -, the declaratory and dialogical nature poetry, its more affectionate and less virtuosistic diction; the non-coincidence between poem and poetry – some call it "new romanticism"; renewed - and problematic - linking/constitution of the poetic subject; and disinhibition of themes. For this matter, we recover fundamental critical readings not only for the understanding of Portuguese contemporary production as well as for the discussion, in parallel, of the same tendencies in other traditions. Finally, we specifically developed the analysis of two poems by Al Berto in order to demonstrate the theoretical topics pointed before.