From the tragic feeling of life
There is no rebellion in the man
who revolts wearing shoes.
What arises in him
is just a scrap
that clings inside
to the plank of theory.
What is resting in him
and departs into philosophy
is perhaps the seed
of the fruit that is born in him
and thirst does not ease.
Rebellion is to have been born
without discovering the meaning
of what will kill us.
Rebellion is what puts
a blade in our hand
to vibrate in that death
that kills us slowly.
And only after being informed
only after being enlightened
rebellious naked and lying down
the irony of knowledge
of what only then is known
and cannot be told.
Translated by Diniz Borges
The series envisions Natália Correia as a world writer, a voice whose work transcends geography and language. Through translation, it will establish her as a central figure not only of Portuguese literature but of universal literature, accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Rooted in the Cátedra Natália Correia at the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute, California State University, Fresno, this project is guided by the belief that literature is both cultural memory and social capital — a bridge between Portugal, the diaspora, and the global community of readers.
- Translate and publish Natália Correia’s poetry, prose, and creative writings systematically into English, creating the first sustained body of her work in translation.
- Connect diaspora communities in North America to one of their greatest literary and feminist figures, strengthening cultural pride and identity.
- Introduce American and Canadian readers to a bold, universal author whose themes — freedom, feminism, justice, creativity, and human dignity — speak urgently to our own age.
- Preserve, amplify, and institutionalize Natália’s legacy as poet, essayist, novelist, and cultural icon through the Cátedra Natália Correia at the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute, Fresno State, ensuring that her work reaches both academic and community audiences.
- Foster dialogue between Portugal and its diaspora by using literature as a shared space of memory, imagination, and critical thought.
Natália Correia (1923–1993) was one of Portugal’s most incandescent voices — poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, and fearless advocate for freedom and women’s rights. Her words shook dictatorships, inspired generations, and continue to burn with relevance today.
The Insurgent Muse: Natália Correia in Translation is the first sustained project to bring her creative universe into English. Conceived under the auspices of the Cátedra Natália Correia at the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI), California State University, Fresno, this series brings together her lyrical poetry, her essays of resistance, her daring erotic writings, and her visionary humanism.
This project is more than translation — it is cultural bridge-building. It offers the Portuguese diaspora in North America a luminous return to one of their greatest voices, while introducing American and Canadian readers to a writer whose work belongs among the greats of world literature. In her lines, we find not only the soul of Portugal but also the universal call of a writer who believed that poetry was a force for liberty, equality, and imagination.
This project is sponsored by the Luso-American Education Foundation.
Filamentos (artes e letras) 