“Damned is the man who abandons himself”
These six words show
That the worse the situation is
Never, ever should a man consider it is lost.
~ Raimundo A. Sobrinho
Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho, 77, is a Brazilian poet and writer. Born in a rural area of Goiás on 1 August 1938, he moved to São Paulo at the age of 23 where he worked as a gardener and a book seller. In the late 1970s, early 1980s, nearly at the end of the military dictatorship of Brazil, he became homeless, and this lasted for nearly 35 years. During this period he wrote several poems and short stories, but they remained unknown until they were discovered by Shalla Monteiro in April 2011.
Thank you Sawsan
Beautiful Man. Beautiful story. Beautiful message.
All that Karen…
Yup, no words…..
yes yes yes
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Sunday morning …. take s look!!
Deeply, touching.
OMG!! There ARE no words! Thanks for sharing ….
Smiling. You are right!
We should never take our blessings, for granted…
Out among the endless sea of disenfranchised people, was Raimundo A. Sobrinho..a jewel of a writer, a struggling man who existed in plain sight…overlooked, day by day, year by year…disconnected from society, at large…he quietly, staked his claim of presence…
He lived on an “island” a strip of green-way in the midst of active traffic (perhaps in a residential neighborhood)….I think of the word “island” and how many go to an island to get away from it all, to vacation in paradise…..I think of the word, “island” and how an island is disconnected from the mass of a continent, seemingly independent but truly, needing connection with the “mainland”, I think further of the word “island” and the inner-landscape of one’s mind and the words of John Donne, which speak of need, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee”
There is always a need of connect..within the Brotherhood of man…I think of Shalla Monteiro willingness to “Reach In” making a connection… what took place, when she did and Raimundo A. Sobrinho in his vulnerability, accepted her approach, then her dignified compassion, a friendship blossomed and the destiny of many people’s journeys was enriched….including our own….
Our actions will always affect someone else…
“Damned is the man who abandons himself” He never abandoned himself…we abandoned him…..
Thank you for the introduction to Raimundo A. Sobrinho and his life…In gratefulness for you and your caring humanity,
Kindly, Christie
Beautifully stated Christie. Thank you.
There are some words. Where there is life…hope. always. I’d love to find his book.
Yes. I searched around for his book and didn’t have any luck.
Too bad. It has to be fascinating.
Christie pointed us to his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ocondicionado/?fref=nf
Okay, thanks. Will explore. ☺
Dave and Van – what I was able to find out is that he is Hoping to find a publisher…for now you can read some of his writing on a facebook page…
Thank you Christie
I notice this on his facebook, page today…Raimundo A. Sobrinho he passed away on 12/22/20
Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho
December 22, 2020 ·
Dear friends, I hope you’re all well.
With much regret, I am writing to announce that our beloved Raimundo passed away today, December 22, at 5:45 a.m, at dawn.
He had been hospitalized for a week and since Sunday his condition suffered a significant worsening.
It was my birthday last week, and we talked for over an hour on the phone. It was my best gift to be able to talk to him for so long! When I asked if he was tired or if he wanted to hang up, he answered “no” and I kept taking every second to tell him how much I loved him and how important he was and always would be in my life!
I made a synthesis of our encounter: that will be 10 years in 2021, a decade! I emphasized – as always – how grateful I am and how I feel privileged and honored to be his friend, having served as a channel for the reunion with his family and the fact that our history has traveled all around the world and has positively impacted so many people!
In this conversation, in addition to reliving moments, we talked about future plans, as he would come to spend time with me in Florianópolis and what it would be like when we were together by the sea! How incredible it would be, swimming together with him and my son! And then, how amazing would it be to go with him to São Paulo and walk around his Island, the last place where he lived in as a homeless person. We also did a visualization together, imagining him leaving the hospital, coming home and taking care of his dogs! He loved animals and used to take care of them with so much dedication!
I also recited all his poetry that I know by heart (there are many!) and read the ones that are posted. He always used to say “I’m not a poet” and “what I write has no value” and I always answered that to me he was my favorite poet and the person I most admired in the universe!
And I reinforced that it wasn’t just me, because I’m such a fan of him that I’m suspicious of saying it, but reminded him that almost 200,000 people from all over the world liked the page I put together for him, how they ask for his poetry and his book, that was not formally published, but it did not prevent his work from being disseminated!
In another conversation, before he was hospitalized, I mentioned the idea of reciting his poetry and posting on his page (because I always recited to him, but never posted) so I asked him what he thought and he replied, “what you do will be well done”, then I promised him that I would always spread not only his poetry, but his example as a person who is unique and so inspiring.
Everything was so beautiful since the first time we met! I knew I was in front of a Master! And that is how I always considered him… and it brings me the mission of sharing his example of life and all the learning and invaluable experience that our encounter-friendship has provided me.
It is incredibly special to know that during his last years of life, Raimundo had a lot of love from his family and friends – personally and here from this FanPage – and received all the affection and welcome he deserved!
I bid farewell to him with certainty that his passage through earth was a sun of solstice, like the one on the eve of his last travel. And our meeting was a Conjunction of Stars, like the one that is marking the sky today… and he surely became, at this moment, one of such stars (the big one for sure) illuminating all of us!
I love you forever and across all universes, my Baby!
Shalla