Mario Quintana

He stood out for his lyrical style and his ability to capture the essence of everyday life in his poems.

He wrote:

"My life is in my poems,
my poems are myself,
I never wrote a comma
that was not a confession."

Mario Quintana was born in Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul, on July 30, 1906.

As he himself wrote about his life, he was born premature in the midst of winter in the southern part of the country, in a temperature of one degree, which left him complexed, because he thought he was not ready.

Quintana grew up in a middle-class family in southern Brazil and began to show an interest in literature from a very young age.

He made his literary debut in 1940 when he published his first book of poetry, "A Rua dos Cataventos," which caught the attention of critics and recognized him as a poet.

Throughout his career, several books of poetry were written, including "Canções" (1946), "Sapato Florido" (1948), and "Espelho Mágico" (1951), among others.

His poems deal with themes of everyday life, nostalgia, childhood, and reflection on life.

In addition to his work as a poet, Mario Quintana also stood out as a critic and translator.

He published his chronicles in various newspapers and magazines, and with his agile and pleasant style, he gained a loyal audience.

He also dedicated himself to translating literary works, which allowed him to speak to Brazilian readers and foreign authors such as William Faulkner and Marcel Proust.

As a translator, Quintana performed many important works, highlighting the important works "In Search of Lost Time," by Marcel Proust, and "Mrs. Dalloway," by Virginia Woolf.

Mario Quintana received many awards throughout his life.

We cannot fail to mention that the poet competed three times for a seat in the Brazilian Academy of Letters, but unfortunately, he was not elected on any of the occasions.

For this reason, he refused to be invited for the fourth time, even with the promise of unanimity around his name.

Quintana always lived in Porto Alegre, where he also worked as a public employee at the Public Library of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

His life and his love for everyday details are reflected in his poetry, with his unique style and his ability to find beauty in the simple, making him one of the most beloved poets in Brazil.

Mario Quintana never married and also did not have children.

He died in the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, on May 5, 1994, leaving a rich legacy for Brazil, of a heritage of great value in his literary works.

His body rests in the São Miguel Cemetery, located in Porto Alegre.

Many celebrations in his honor took place in 2006, on the centenary of his birth.

His poetry influenced generations of poets and continues to be a source of inspiration for those who seek to explore the beauty of everyday life.

One of his most read and commented poems speaks about time and life.

It is part of the work "Esconderijos do Tempo," published initially in 1980.

It was written when the author was already over seventy years old.

It is a synthesis of his mature vision and the passage of time, the clock does not stop and time flies.

We highlight here the excerpt from this poem and through it, we understand why he became known to many as "Six Hundred and Sixty-Six"

"When you see, it's already 6 hours: there's time...

When you see, it's already 6th. Sunday...

When you see, 60 years have passed!"