'Heteronyms', as Pessoa called and defined them, are something different and exceedingly strange. Pseudonymous writing is not rare in literature or philosophy (Kierkegaard provides a celebrated instance). In one fell swoop, at the typewriter, without hesitation or correction, there appeared the "Ode Triumphal" by "Alvaro de Campos" - the Ode of that name and the man with the name he now has.' A fourth individual 'burst impetuously on the scene. But Caeiro had disciples, one of whom, 'Ricardo Reis', contributed further poems. The first set of poems was by one 'Alberto Caeiro' - 'my Master had appeared inside me.' The next six were composed by Pessoa struggling against the 'inexistence' of Caeiro. But Pessoa's case is different and, probably, unique. Other poets, notably Rilke, have experienced such hours of explosive prodigality.
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