Questions, by Federico Garcia Lorca

[cafolini]

In concert the cicada balms the field.
What do you say, Marcus Aurelius,
about these old philosophers of the plains?
How poor is your thought!

Soft and tame runs the river.
O’ Socrates! What do you see
in the water, sliding to bitter death?
How poor is your faith!

The petals of the roses fall to mud.
O’ sweet Johnny of God!
What do you see in these glorious leaves?
How small is your heart!

[expressionism]

amazing poem, cafo

[cafolini]

Many people consider Lorca the best poet of the Spasnish language. I think he's one of the best, but there are many other good ones, including Miguel Hernandez, among others. Machado has been the most popular but for my taste he got too involved in politics. This might have been to protect his brother, a subtle fascist during the civil war. Another good one was Quevedo of the Baroque. Grazian was a good one but the church held him back under menace of taking away his job and he was docile and complied as much as he had to. But he left some good stuff.
Lorca got a little confused in New York, where he failed to see the ulterior outcome, but even there his poems had unique genuine force.