The Herd Keeper

The Herd Keeper: A Pagan Portuguese Poem

By Fernando Pessoa (writing as Alberto Caeiro)

Translated by Erick Maia

“To think is to be sick in the eyes.”

Discover the masterpiece of the "Portuguese Walt Whitman"—a work so profound it served as the guiding light for all of Fernando Pessoa’s literary alter-egos.

The Herd Keeper (O Guardador de Rebanhos) is not just a collection of poetry; it is a sensory revolution. Written under the heteronym "Alberto Caeiro", the "Master" of Pessoa’s poetic universe, these 49 poems reject the heavy chains of philosophy and metaphysics in favor of the simple, radical act of "seeing".

A Philosophy of Sensation

In this collection, Caeiro introduces the world to "sensacionismo"—a belief that the only reality we can truly know is what we perceive through our eyes, ears, and touch. He famously casts himself as a shepherd of thoughts, declaring:


"I'm a herd keeper. The herd is my thoughts / And my thoughts are all sensations."



"Thinking is uncomfortable like walking in the rain."


"I don't have a philosophy: I have senses..."



A New, Soulful Translation

This edition marks the debut of the "Pessoa by Me" collection. Unlike dry, academic exercises, this translation by Erick Maia is a "work of love and "Saudade." Erick Maia revisits verses that have lived in his memory for over 50 years, bridging his youth in Brazil with his life in America to create a version that is accessible, natural, and raw.

What’s Inside:


A Complete Translation: The full cycle of poems from the legendary "pagan" shepherd.

Context: Brief introductions to the life of Fernando Pessoa—the man who was "One and Many"—and his most distinctive creation, Alberto Caeiro.


The Poet’s Sage Advice: Explore a world where the sun is worth more than the thoughts of all philosophers, and where the only mystery is that people think there is a mystery at all.



Step into Caeiro’s village. Lean out the window. Unlearn everything you’ve been taught and learn, for the first time, how to simply exist.

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About the Authors:


Fernando Pessoa(1888–1935) is one of the most influential figures in 20th-century literature, famous for creating dozens of distinct literary personalities known as heteronyms.

Alberto Caeiro is the nature-loving "Poetic Sage of Simplicity" who lived in a whitewashed house in the hills, writing the "prose of his verses" to teach humanity how to see again.