The 12 best phrases of the poet Rafael Alberti
Rafael Alberti (Cádiz, 1902 - 1999) was one of the great Spanish writers, representative of the Generation of 27.
This Cadiz writer was a member of the Communist Party of Spain and had to go into exile after the uprising that brought dictator Francisco Franco to power. Years ago, in 1920, Rafael Alberti began to write verses after the death of his father. From there, Alberti would emerge as one of the most prolific Spanish authors of the 20th century.
- Related article: "The 30 best phrases of Fernando Pessoa, the Portuguese poet"
Famous quotes and phrases by Rafael Alberti
Shortly after that disastrous episode, Alberti returns to Madrid and there he meets writers of the stature of Federico García Lorca, Pedro Salinas, Víctor Alexandre or Gerardo Diego, names that would later be considered the referents of the glorious age of letters Castilian.
In today's article let's get to know this famous character in literature a little more, through the most famous phrases and reflections of him.
1. I don't want to die on the ground: it gives me a terrible panic. As I love to fly by plane and watch the clouds go by, I would like that one day the device in which I travel would get lost and not return. And let the angels make me an epitaph. Or the wind ...
In this sentence, Rafael Alberti explains to us in a poetic way how he would prefer to spend his last moments.
2. Words open doors on the sea
A metaphor of great poetic value.
3. I left with a clenched fist... I come back with an open hand
This famous phrase by Alberti has been interpreted in different ways, for example in reference to his time in exile.
4. Freedom does not have those who do not have their thirst
To find freedom you have to fight and resist.
5. You will not go, my love, and if you left, still leaving my love, you would never leave
An excerpt from one of his most acclaimed poems: "You will not go (or Come, my love, in the afternoon ...)".
6. Full of softness and carmine,
dreamy lantern, vague and flying,
she flew to the highest vantage points.
Look at her cherub of cherubs,
of the orchard of the airs pulsadora.
Pensive of Alberti among the flowers!
An excerpt from the poem he dedicated to his wife, Rosa de Alberti.
7.I will never be made of stone, I will cry when necessary, I will scream when necessary, I will laugh when necessary, I will sing when necessary
A declaration of intent full of vitality and optimism.
8. You have to be blind, have scratches of glass, quicklime, boiling sand stuck in your eyes, so as not to see the light that jumps in our actions, that illuminates our tongue, our daily word
An ode to language in this memorable phrase by Rafael Alberti.
9. I saw you float, flower of agony, float on your very spirit. (Someone had sworn that the sea would save you from sleep.) It was when I saw that the walls break with sighs and that there are doors to the sea that open with words and that there are doors to the sea that open with words
Another extract from “Ángel de las bodegas”, one of his most surprising verses in which he tells us about wine.
10. And the sea went and gave a name, and a surname to the wind, and the clouds a body, and a soul the fire. The earth, nothing
The elements and the landscape were highly elaborated concepts in Alberti's work.
11. Life is like a lemon, they throw you into the sea squeezed and dry
A phrase for free interpretation.
12. Through the centuries, for the nowhere in the world, I, sleepless, looking for you
About lost loves of her and the longing to return to happier times.