Of the same author:
POESIA
(1963)
MY FATHER'S HOUSE
(1963)
LET'S BREAK THE CHAIN
(1963)
SHOUTING ON ZORROTZA WHARF
(1963)
Gabriel Aresti (1933-1975) Born into a nationalist non-Basque-speaking family in Bilbao. At fourteen he began to study Basque on his own, reading the classics in the City Library and listening to popular verse improvisers. His poetry evolved from the symbolism of his youth to the social criticism of his later years. He exerted an enormous influence of the youth of the 60s and 70s. His work Harri eta Herri (Stone and Country, 1964) is the foundational book of Basque modern civil poetry. He was critical, indulged in controversy and broke the myth of the «Basque believer». He openly stated his left-wing ideas, and also contributed to the updating of song-singing and drama... His death, which coincided with the end of the Franco regime, closed a period of Basque literature.
IF FOR TELLING THE TRUTH...
Gabriel Aresti , 1963
If for telling the truth
they must kill
my daughters,
rape my wife,
pull down
the house
where I live;
if for telling the truth
they must cut
off the hand
I write with,
the tongue
I sing with;
if for telling the truth
they must rub
out my name
from the golden pages
of Basque literature,
never in any way
nor in any place
will they be able
to make me shut up.
Translation: Toni Strubell
Original version: EGIA BAT ESATEAGATIK
© Gabriel Aresti © Translation: Toni Strubell
| anonymous |
| centuries |
| 15 |
| 16 |
| 20 |
| alphabetical list of the poems |