The Assassination of a Famous Poet
- wintergreen206
- Jun 14, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2024
“Ay que trabajo me cuesta
Quererte como te quiero!
Por tu amor me duele el aire,
El corazon
Y el sombrero.”
- Federico García Lorca
(Oh what pain it costs me
To love you how I love you!
For your love the air hurts me,
And my heart
And my hat.)
The poetry and plays of Federico García Lorca are some of the most romantic pieces I have ever read. His writing is full of sensual, magical-surrealist images - reminiscent of Gabriel García Márquez. Moonlight is described as frozen honey poured over a gray landscape. Flowers sprout in the floor of a phone booth when the poet hears the voice of a long-distance lover.
Lorca was born in Fuente Vaqueros, just outside the small city of Granada, where I am currently staying. The Granada province is also where he was killed by Francoists in 1936 at the young age of 38.
In Madrid, Lorca befriended other poets and bohemian-types, including Salvador Dalí. In fact, Dalí claimed Lorca was madly in love with him, although it was unrequited. Whether it was true or not, the two were inseperable friends until death.
The reasons behind the assassination of Lorca have been historically cloudy, but it is certain that his homosexuality and alternative lifestyle - combined with his growing fame as a writer - had something to do with it. Lorca’s writing was subversive in 1920-30’s Spain for its criticism of societal institutions such as marriage, and the theme of taboo love. He was outspoken during his life about his progressive politics and sexuality.
In modern-day Granada, a massive park is named after Federico García Lorca. There is a statue of him on the University of Granada campus, and his home has been converted into a museum. However, it seems to me that the greatest testament to the legacy of Lorca is the bohemian atmosphere of Granada.
It’s a beautiful, quirky city with a lot of Eastern influence. This is because Granada was the last Moorish stronghold in Europe, before it was taken under the Spanish rule of Ferdinand and Isabel in 1492. The Arabic quarter is made of narrow, stone-mosaic streets. Among this labyrinth, you will find bohemian characters from all over the world exploring, having a coffee, or smoking hashish in one of the many hookah bars.
Higher up is where the ‘gitanos’ live. These are the people who crossed Egypt from Africa to settle in Spain. They often come to the little plazas and play flamenco music for locals and tourists.
I climbed through this neighborhood to the very top of the hill, which is where the hippies live in caves. Yes, they live in actual caves, without electricity or running water. Most of them come from wealthy backgrounds to live the hippie dream in Granada. According to my local guide, the hippies are generally appreciated as they contribute to the bohemian atmosphere.
From the top of the hill, I had a view of Granada and La Alhambra (the Moorish palace). Down the hillside I could see the chimneys and roofs of the underground dwellings, and one of them was flying a massive rainbow pride flag.
The city of Granada is as enchantingly beautiful as the poetry of García Lorca. I met a man in my hostel from India who had come to Granada on a whim, and ended up staying for months as a volunteer. ‘There’s just something about this place,’ he told me, ‘something in the atmosphere, I don’t know what it is.’
The poet-martyr of Granada would be pleased to see that (although it has become more touristy in recent years) his hometown has remained a hub for artists, bohemians, and wanderers of all kinds.
Sources and more on Federico García Lorca:
Thanks. Enjoyed your writing and learning about Lorca.