Canção Final

Carlos Drummond de Andrade's 'Canção Final' is a poignant exploration of love, memory, and the existential musings that accompany the passage of time. The poem begins with a reflection on love, acknowledging its presence but also its limitations. The line 'Oh! se te amei, e quanto! Mas não foi tanto assim' suggests a love that was significant yet not overwhelming, hinting at the imperfection and human frailty even in divine emotions, as indicated by 'Até os deuses claudicam em nugas de aritmética.' This metaphorical reference to gods stumbling over trivial arithmetic underscores the complexity and often the triviality of human emotions and experiences.

The poet then delves into the nature of memory and the passage of time, using the metaphor of measuring the past with a ruler that exaggerates distances. This suggests a tendency to distort memories, making them seem more distant and perhaps more significant than they were. The lines 'Tudo tão triste, e o mais triste é não ter tristeza alguma' reflect a profound sense of melancholy, where the absence of sadness itself becomes the saddest realization. This paradox highlights the numbness and emotional void that can accompany the passage of time and the fading of intense emotions.

In the final stanza, Drummond contemplates the futility of existence and the ambiguity of action. The questions 'Agora vou-me. Ou me vão? Ou é vão ir ou não ir?' express a deep existential uncertainty, questioning the purpose and impact of one's actions. The repetition of 'Oh! se te amei, e quanto, quer dizer, nem tanto assim' at the end reinforces the initial sentiment, bringing the poem full circle and emphasizing the transient and often ambiguous nature of love and life. Drummond's lyrical mastery lies in his ability to convey complex emotions and philosophical reflections with simplicity and elegance, making 'Canção Final' a timeless meditation on the human condition.