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Eight Material Poems

Translated from Portuguese by Charles A. Perrone, Marco 
Alexandre de Oliveira, and the Author

Augusto de Campos (born in 1931) is considered by many 
to be Brazil’s finest living poet. He is also a leading 
translator, especially of inventive originals; a literary critic, 

primarily of national and international poetry; and a musical critic, 
of both popular and avant-garde varieties. Campos is one of 
the São Paulo poets who formulated the mid-century vanguard 
movement of poesia concreta (concrete poetry) which featured 
verbivocovisual ideograms. After the close of the movement 
per se c. 1967, his own output has maintained the visual and 
minimalist orientations of concrete art. Since the 1960s he has 
been a prominent figure in material poetry and experimental 
lyric, not just in Portuguese-language circles but worldwide. 
Translations of his texts have been appearing since around 
1970 in North America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, 
Argentina, and elsewhere. He has published numerous digital 
versions and animations of texts on the internet at http://www2.
uol.com.br/augustodecampos/home.htm.

      C. A. P.



118    Augusto de Campos

“o quasar” (1975) 

from VIVA VAIA: Poesia 1949-1979. Duas Cidades, 1979.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    119

Translated by Charles A. Perrone and the author.



120    Augusto de Campos

“pó do cosmos” (1981) 

from Despoesia. Perspectiva, 1994.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    121

“Cosmic Dust”

Translated by Marco Alexandre de Oliveira.



122    Augusto de Campos

“pós-soneto” (1991) 

from Despoesia. Perspectiva, 1994.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    123

Translated by Charles A. Perrone.



124    Augusto de Campos

“axel’s site” (2000)  

from Não. Perspectiva, 2003. Translated by the author.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    125



126    Augusto de Campos

“ad marginem” (1986)

from Não. Perspectiva, 2003.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    127

Translated by Charles A. Perrone and the author.



128    Augusto de Campos

“ferida” (2001)

from Não. Perspectiva, 2003.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    129

Translated by Charles A. Perrone and the author.



130    Augusto de Campos

“desumano” (2004) 

from Outro. Perspectiva, 2015..



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    131

Translated by Charles A. Perrone and the author..



132    Augusto de Campos

“humano” (2014) 

from Outro. Perspectiva, 2015.



Perrone, Oliveira, de Campos    133

Translated by Charles A. Perrone and the author.


