Carlos Drummond de Andrade

Carlos Drummond de Andrade was a Brazilian poet and writer, considered by some as the greatest Brazilian poet of all time. He has become something of a national cultural symbol in Brazil, where his widely influential poem Friendly Song has been featured on the 50-cruzado novo bill. He was born in Itabira, Minas Gerais, in 1902, and graduated in pharmacy, but never worked as a pharmacist after graduation. He worked as a journalist, translator, and promoter, before becoming a civil servant. He was one of the founders of Brazilian modernism, and participated in the Modern Art Week in 1922. He wrote several poetry books, such as Alguma Poesia, Sentimento do Mundo, A Rosa do Povo, and Claro Enigma, as well as short stories, essays, and chronicles. He was also an activist for several causes, such as nationalism, oil exploration, and education reform. He died in 1987, at the age of 84, after suffering a heart attack.