The ivory Glorieta de Becquer statue honouring Sevillian poet Gustavo Aldolfo Becquer was sculpted in 1911 by Lorenzo Valera. Located in the Parque Maria Luisa, it depicts the phases of love.
¿Qué es poesía? dices mientras clavas
en mi pupila tu pupila azul.
¿Qué es poesía? ¿Y tú me lo preguntas?
Poesía... eres tú.
What is poetry? you say while piercing
into my pupil your blue pupil.
What is poetry? And you ask me?
Poetry... is you.
- from Gustavo Becquer's book Rimas y Leyenas
Becquer, born in 1836 in Sevilla, died in 1870 in Madrid of pneumonia and liver complications. His real name was Gustavo Adolfo Dominguez Bastida. Like his brother, the painter Valeriano Becquer, he adopted the second last name of his Flemish father. The brothers were orphaned at an early age.
After Becquer's death, his friends published his works. A short story writer, as well as a poet, today Becquer is considered the founder of Spanish lyricism. His most famous work Rimas y Leyenas (Rhymes & Legends) is part of the Spanish school curriculum.
Sigh.
I love Becquer.
Thanks for posting him.
¿Qué tal las clases? ¿Te van bien?
hasta la próxima entrada, supongo...
;)
Posted by: erin | 27 October 2006 at 11:46
Poesia....eres tu :)
Posted by: Catalina | 26 October 2006 at 15:34
I have heard this Becquer quote before & loved it ... wonderful to be reminded of these beautiful words of poetry and to see the statue in his honour. Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful bits of Sevilla with us, Tara.
Posted by: Deborah | 26 October 2006 at 06:42
Such romance! The sculture are glorious, and so is the poetry...
Posted by: Becca | 26 October 2006 at 04:07
This gave me tingles as any worthy
poetry should.
I am writing this down in my journal.
Oh..............
I love it.
Posted by: sophie | 26 October 2006 at 00:14
Tara,
"Poetry... is you."
If that's not the truth then I don'y know what is.
Beautiful statuary. Love the way the light payed with your camera.
rel
Posted by: rel | 25 October 2006 at 23:32
What woman can't relate to that?....lovely to be able to see this through your eyes. Thanks
Peace Sherrie
Posted by: giggles | 25 October 2006 at 21:41
Beautiful statues! I hope you're enjoying yourself! :)
Posted by: bella | 25 October 2006 at 19:55
Now this is the kind of thing I love to sketch! It's all so much, though--- so unheedless of balance and restraint. You wouldn't see this type of sculpture in France, would you? There's plenty of love and idealism, but less flinging oneself about.
Posted by: Laura | 25 October 2006 at 19:47
A good lesson in Spanish lit. I actually understood the works before I read the translation.
thank you!!
Posted by: Colette | 25 October 2006 at 18:20
what an interesting statue; like several styles all rolled into one
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 25 October 2006 at 18:10
Those ladies on the bench! oh, I love it. I would want to sit and touch them... But not in a perverted way!
:)
Posted by: Amber | 25 October 2006 at 17:49
The poem is perfectly simple..What is the last stage of love?
Posted by: wendy | 25 October 2006 at 16:40
Beautiful sculptures..beautiful poetry!
Posted by: naturegirl | 25 October 2006 at 12:55
What lovely statuary and tribute to this poet!
If only he could have lived to see his work published.
Thank you for introducing him - I'll have to see if there are any translations of his work at the library.
Posted by: tinker | 25 October 2006 at 09:56
As always I find a surfeit of riches on your blog
Posted by: Catherine | 25 October 2006 at 09:19
Tara, the ladies of the tree are beautiful. They look like they are about to come to life.
Posted by: annieelfAnn | 25 October 2006 at 08:40
Such beauty you have found!
Posted by: Tammy | 25 October 2006 at 01:21