SOURCE: Martins, Wilson. “Carlos Drummond de Andrade and the Heritage of Modernismo.” World Literature Today 53 (1979): 16-18.

In the following essay, Martins explains Drummond's vision of modernism and notes the popular and critical attention the poet has received.

To a large extent, the work of Carlos Drummond de Andrade is the poetic legacy of modernismo.¹ Born in 1902, he published his first volume of verse, Alguma poesia (Some Poetry), in 1930; others, like Manuel Bandeira (1886-1968) and Mário de Andrade (1893-1945), came from that noman's-land sometimes called pré-modernismo, which means that they had to make the revolution and to fight at the barricades. Not so with Carlos Drummond de Andrade; for him modernismo was a war already won, and the only task left was to occupy and explore the conquered territories—which he did, masterfully.

Of course, he is much more than a faithful follower and an adherent; it...