Spanish Post-War Poetry: Rooted, Uprooted, and Social

Post-War Spanish Poetry

Post-war poetry in Spain is characterized by distinct movements that reflect the nation's turbulent history. The first major movement is Poesía Arraigada (Rooted Poetry).

Poetry Rooted: Poesía Arraigada

Presented with common features, this is a nationalist and heroic form of poetry, often imbued with religious fervor. It maintains a classic, serene, and optimistic tone. The principal authors of this period are poets within the orbit of the Falange, such as:

• Luis Rosales
• Luis Felipe Vivanco
• Dionisio Ridruejo
• Leopoldo Panero

All of them share characteristics with other poets associated with the journal Garcilaso, the most significant being José García Nieto.

Poetry Uprooted: Poesía Desarraigada

As main features, we highlight the existence of a feeling of anxiety regarding the bitter reality of the war; these poets are orphaned of hope and existential certainties. The most prominent authors of this time are Carlos Bousoño, Vicente Aleixandre, and Dámaso Alonso.

Alonso's work Sons of Wrath (Hijos de la ira) stands out as one of the most important examples of uprooted poetry. It shows a profound grievance against the monstrosity of the world, written in a repetitive, dry, and torn style of verse.

Poetry in Exile

The common characteristics of this movement are the subject of the lost homeland and a bitter and desperate tone combined with various styles. The most significant writers of the time were Juan Gil-Albert, Juan Ramón Jiménez, León Felipe, and three poets from the Generation of '27: Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, and Luis Cernuda.

León Felipe

León Felipe stands out for his approach to the poor and the oppressed, utilizing poetic inspiration from the folk tradition. Outstanding titles include Verses and Prayers of the Wanderer and Broken Anthology.

Juan Gil-Albert

Juan Gil-Albert is a chief representative of poetry in exile; although he returned to Spain in 1947, he remained in "internal exile." Notable works include Mysterious Presence and Illusions.

Social Poetry of the 1950s

This type of poetry evolved from the "I" to the "we," shifting from the egocentrism of existential poetry to the testimony of injustice and social complaint. The poet becomes more solidary with the oppressed. It uses plain language and clear prose that sometimes verges on the pamphlet. Poetry became the main instrument of political and social action.

Major Social Poets

• Gabriel Celaya: Author of Cantos Iberos, whose tenets are summarized in the poem Poetry is a Weapon Loaded with the Future.
• Blas de Otero: His works Ángel fieramente humano (Angel Fiercely Human) and Redoble de conciencia imply the expression of uprooted poetry. Within social poetry, his work Pido la paz y la palabra (I Ask for Peace and the Word) includes pieces of high aesthetic requirement.
• José Hierro: This poet began in the social movement but always kept in mind the value of language and rhythm. His work is intimate and close to the poets of the 1980s. His greatest success was achieved in the 1990s with the publication of the book New York Notebook, which brought poetry to an audience typically distanced from the genre.