Federico García Lorca was a Spanish poet and dramatist born in 1898 in Granada, Spain. He showed early talent for writing and piano. His first published work was in 1918 and he became known for reciting his poems in cafes. Some of his most famous works include the poetry collection "Gypsy Ballads" from 1928 and plays like "Blood Wedding" from 1933. Unfortunately, Lorca was arrested and executed without trial in 1936 at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War due to his artistic views being seen as a threat. He is now recognized as a brilliant Spanish writer.

1. • Federico García Lorca
A Spanish Poet and Dramatist
The eldest of four children, Federico was born in 1898 in the village of Fuente Vaqueros, near Granada. His parents were
called Federico and Vicenta and they were wealthy landowners.
• As a youth, it became obvious that he was a talented writer and pianist. His first published work was a collection of prose
pieces called Impresiones y Paisajes (Impressions and Landscapes) in 1918 when he was just twenty years old.
• Soon, Federico became well-known for his wonderful work, partly because he liked to recite (read out) his poems and
writings to groups of listeners in cafés and houses.
• In 1919 he went to study Law in Madrid where he became the friend of film director Luis Buñuel and painter Salvador
Dalí.
• In 1928, his first famous collection of poems was published. This work is called Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Ballads) and it
is a collection of eighteen poems. Click HERE to read a piece from the collection.
• Federico loved the theatre and he became director of a university theatre company of Madrid called La Barraca. They
toured towns, taking drama to smaller towns where theatres did not exist.
• His first great play was Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) in 1933. Over the next two years, he completed his other two
most popular plays - Yerma and La Casa de Bernarda Alba.
• In July 1936, Federico returned on holiday to his home area of Granada. A month later, for political reasons, he was
arrested and executed without a trial. Nobody is sure where he is buried. It was at the time of the beginning of the
Spanish Civil War and Federico, as an intellect and an artistic person, was considered an unsuitable influence on the
Spanish people. In fact, his plays and poems were banned until 1975 when the Spanish leader
General Francisco Franco died.
Above: Portrait of General Franco.
He was also known as El Caudillo.
General Francisco Franco became the leader of Spain
(el caudillo) at the time of the Spanish Civil War.
He remained leader until he died in 1975.
After Franco's death, the Spanish Royal Family returned. Today, Spain's monarchy still exists, with the same King since
Franco's death in 1975 - Juan Carlos I.
• In 1986, the Spanish Government decided to erect a statue of Federico García Lorca in Madrid - to mark the fiftieth
anniversary of his death and to recognise his brilliance as a Spanish writer and poet. Below is a photo of the statue.
•

3. Córdova.
Far , and lonely.
Black pony full moon
And olives in my pocket
Although I know the roads
I`ll never reach Cordova
For the plain, for the wind
Black pony, red moon
And death is watching for me
Beside Cordoba `s towers
Ay! The long, long highway
Ay! My valiant pony
Ay, that death is waiting
Before I reach Cordova
Cordova, far and lonely

4. The Little Ballad of the Three
Rivers
The Guadalquivir’s river
runs past oranges and olives.
The two rivers of Granada,
fall, to wheatfields, out of snow.
Ay, Love, that goes,
and never returns!
The Guadalquivir’s river
has a beard of clear garnet.
The two rivers of Granada
one of sorrow, one of blood.
Ay, Love,
vanished down the wind!

5. The lady with the fan
The lady of the fan
goes over the bridge,
over the cool river.
The gentlemen
in their waistcoats
look at the little bridge
without railings.
The lady of the fan,
with skirts a-flying,
is seeking a husband.
The gentlemen
are already married
to tall blond ladies
of the white language.
Crickets are singing
in the west.
(The lady
walks through the greenery.)
Crickets are singing
under the flowers.
(The gentlemen
go towards the north.)

6. The Lizard is Crying!
Mr. Lizard is crying.
Mrs. Lizard is crying.
Mr. and Mrs. Lizard
in little white aprons.
Have gone and lost
their wedding ring.
Ah, their little leaden wedding ring,
ah, their little ring of lead!
A large sky without people
carries the birds in its balloon.
The sun, rotund captain,
wears a satin waistcoat.
Look how old they are!
How old the lizards are!
Oh, how they cry and cry,
Oh! Oh! How they go on crying

7. Snail
They have brought me
a snail.
Inside it sings
a map-green ocean.
My heart
swells with water,
with small fish,
silvery, shadowy.
They have brought me
a snail.

8. Silly Song
Mum,
I wish I were silver.
Son,
you'd be very cold.
Mum,
I wish I were water.
Son,
you'd be very cold.
Mum,
Embroider me on your pillow.
That I will!
Right away!

9. Two moons of evening
1.
For Laurita, friend of my sister
The Moon is dying, dying:
but will be born again in the spring.
When on the brow of the poplars
is curled the wind from the south.
When our hearts have given
their harvest of sighing.
When the rooftops are wearing
their little hats of weeds.
The moon is dying, dying:
but will be reborn in the spring.

10. Butterfly
Butterfly on the air
How beautiful you are.
Butterfly on the air
Gilded and green
Light of the lamp.
Butterfly on the air
Stay there, there, there!...
You don´t want to stop
To stop you don´t want .
Butterfly on the air
Gilden and green
Light of the lamp.
Butterfly on the air
Stay there, there, there!...
Stay there!
Butterfly, are you there?

11. Poema Anda jaleo - de
Federico Garcia Lorca
Yo me subí a un pino verde
por ver si la divisaba,
y sólo divisé el polvo
del coche que la llevaba.
Anda jaleo, jaleo;
ya se acabó el alboroto
y ahora empieza el tiroteo.
En la calle de los muros
mataron a una paloma.
Yo cortaré con mis manos
las flores de su corona.
Anda jaleo, jaleo;
ya se acabó el alboroto
y ahora empieza el tiroteo.