POEMS THAT MOURN: INKBLOTS

Hello everybody!

   35 Ways of Silent Scream´s finality is to explain the different ways we have to express our feelings and, as we are five people responsible of this weblog, we have divided the theme in different sections.

   At first, I want to explain what is  this particular section of 35 Ways of Silent Scream going to be about. And, for a good understanding of it, there is something I consider important for you to have clear:

   Lyric poetry differs from other kinds of poetry because, in it´s case, the author transmits a particular mood; to say it in another way, lyric poetry is often characterized by introspection and the expression of feelings. For this reason, it is the perfect kind of poetry to conquist our goal: the explanation of feelings from the poetry´s point of view.

   The theme of the posts you will find here, in 35 Ways of Silent Scream, this week, is the

SADNESS. 

   And, as the section I'm in charge is related to the genre of poetry, may I give you know one of the most heartfelt and beautiful poems I have ever read or heard. It belongs to Miguel Hernández (1910-1942), a leading poet and playwright of the twentieth century Spanish literature. It´s title (Elegy) refers to the poetic genre to which it belongs and of which we speak here today.

  The Elegy is a subgenre of lyric poetry that consists on regret anything that is lost: the illusion, life, time, a loved one, a feeling, and so on, although in it´s origin was not necessarily so, as evidenced by the elegies of archaic Greek poets.

   In many cases, it´s also a poem written in honor and memory of a deceased person. Very famous are the verses that Jorge Manrique dedicated to his father, or the Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, written by Federico García Lorca as well as the Elegy from Miguel Hernández to Ramón Sijé which I mentioned before and that I have copied under these lines for you to enjoy it. 

   In my case, I had the oportunity to see it represented by a theater director and actor and it was terrific to hear it from someone who transmited so much passion. He screamed and yelled and almost cried!! All the despair and pain that the author felt for the death of his teacher and very friend, Ramón Sijé, is reflected in every single verse. It is a perfect example of the subject we are writing about this week.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  

Elegy

In Orihuela, his village and mine, 
died as from the ray Ramón Sijé, 
with whom I so much wanted.

"Yo quiero ser llorando el hortelano
de la tierra que ocupas y estercolas,
compañero del alma, tan temprano.

Alimentando lluvias, caracolas
y órganos mi dolor sin instrumento
a las desalentadas amapolas

daré tu corazón por alimento.
Tanto dolor se agrupa en mi costado,
que por doler me duele hasta el aliento.

Un manotazo duro, un golpe helado,
un hachazo invisible y homicida,
un empujón brutal te ha derribado.

No hay extensión más grande que mi herida,
lloro mi desventura y sus conjuntos
y siento más tu muerte que mi vida

[...]

A las aladas almas de las rosas

del almendro de nata le requiero,
que tenemos que hablar de muchas cosas,
compañero del alma, compañero."

 Here you are the next directions, for if you want to read the full version of the poem and watch  it on video:

http://html.rincondelvago.com/la-elegia-a-ramon-sije_miguel-hernandez.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-R8jBekmqk&feature=related