Searching for the soul of the city
CityPoem 48 - Barcelona
By Hans Karssenberg
06-05-2007 /views: 1223 in past 12 months.
Our first CityPoem from Barcelona, thanks to Jeroen Boggia’s contribution.
Photo: Jeroen Boggia
Barcelona CityPoem: Les Formigues, Joan Salvat-Papasseit
Unfortunately, no English translation yet.
About the author
Joan Salvat-Papasseit (Barcelona, 1894 - 1824) was known above all as a poet, though he also wrote articles, manifestos and other prose of a political and social nature. His work is notable for its nonconformity, idealism and the foreboding of a premature death.
His poetry, with both avant-garde and traditional influences begins with "Poemes en ondes herzianes" (Poems in Herzian Waves) of 1919, moving to "La gesta dels Estels" (The Great Deed of the Stars) of 1922, and finally to culminate with the poet's vital enthusiasm in "El poema de la rosa als llavis" (The Poem of the Rose at the Lips) in 1923.
The city of Barcelona remembers him with a monument at the Moll de la Fusta, at the foot of which is a reproduction of the poem "Nocturn per a acordió" which refers to the period when the poet was a night-watchman there. His poetic work has been made available to a wide public, in particular through musical arrangements and recitals by Lluís Llach, Ovidi Montllor, Guillermina Motta, Ramon Muntaner, Xavier Ribalta, Joan Manuel Serrat and Rafel Subirachs, amongst others.
The poem “Les Formigues” comes from the book “L'irradiador del port i les Gavines” (1921).
Original text in Catalan:
Camí de sol
per les rutes amigues
unes formigues.
Inspiring Cities Museum of CityPoems
About the author
Joan Salvat-Papasseit (Barcelona, 1894 - 1824) was known above all as a poet, though he also wrote articles, manifestos and other prose of a political and social nature. His work is notable for its nonconformity, idealism and the foreboding of a premature death.
His poetry, with both avant-garde and traditional influences begins with "Poemes en ondes herzianes" (Poems in Herzian Waves) of 1919, moving to "La gesta dels Estels" (The Great Deed of the Stars) of 1922, and finally to culminate with the poet's vital enthusiasm in "El poema de la rosa als llavis" (The Poem of the Rose at the Lips) in 1923.
The city of Barcelona remembers him with a monument at the Moll de la Fusta, at the foot of which is a reproduction of the poem "Nocturn per a acordió" which refers to the period when the poet was a night-watchman there. His poetic work has been made available to a wide public, in particular through musical arrangements and recitals by Lluís Llach, Ovidi Montllor, Guillermina Motta, Ramon Muntaner, Xavier Ribalta, Joan Manuel Serrat and Rafel Subirachs, amongst others.
The poem “Les Formigues” comes from the book “L'irradiador del port i les Gavines” (1921).
Original text in Catalan:
Camí de sol
per les rutes amigues
unes formigues.
See also:
- Barcelona (2) - inspiring a second Spanish life
Inspiring Cities has collected many citypoems over the years, as well as organized salons with citypoets and cities doing special projects. We have two criteria for what a citypoem is: the intention must be poetic, and it must be in the public realm of cities. Shapes, form and locations can and do differ.
The Museum of CityPoems has citypoems from cities all over the world. From Alhambra to Zonnebeke, from Taipei to Lima.
Got one yourself? Mail us your pictures (free of rights) and description, and we will publish.
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