Amar

Carlos Drummond de Andrade, a renowned Brazilian poet, delves into the complexities of love in his poem 'Amar' (which translates to 'Love'). The poem explores the inherent human need to love and be loved, despite the challenges and uncertainties that come with it. The repetition of the word 'amar' (to love) throughout the poem emphasizes the continuous and sometimes compulsive nature of this quest for connection.

The poem questions what a person can do other than love among fellow beings. It suggests that love is an inescapable part of the human condition, even when it leads to forgetting, mistakes, or unrequited feelings. The poet reflects on the solitary nature of love, pondering whether a loving being, alone in the universe, has any other choice but to keep loving. This existential contemplation highlights the isolation that can accompany the act of loving.

Drummond extends the concept of love to the love of inanimate objects and abstract concepts, such as the sea's offerings, the desert's palms, or even the harsh and inhospitable. This universal love is portrayed as an unending, often thankless task, distributed among things that may not return affection. The poem concludes with the idea of loving the very absence of love, the implicit water in dryness, the unspoken kiss, and the endless thirst. It's a poignant reminder of the human capacity for love, even in the face of emptiness and unfulfillment.