A
E
anonymous
 

Of the same author:

 

Of the same author (+)

 

IF FOR TELLING THE TRUTH...
      (1963)

POESIA
      (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.

 

MY FATHER'S HOUSE

        Gabriel Aresti , 1963

 

 

I shall defend

The house of my father.

Against wolves,

Against drought,

Against usury,

Against the Justice,

I shall defend

The house

of my father.

I shall lose

cattle,

orchards,

and pinewoods;

I shall lose

Interests,

Income,

And dividends,

But I shall defend the house of my father.

They will take away my weapons

And with my hands I shall defend

The house of my father;

They will cut off my hands

And with my arms I shall defend

The house of my father;

They will leave me

Without arms,

Without shoulders,

And without breasts,

And with my soul I shall defend

The house of my father.

I shall die,

My soul will be lost,

My descendence will be lost,

But the house of my father

Will remain

Standing.

 

 

Translation: Toni Strubell

Original version: NIRE AITAREN ETXEA

 

© Gabriel Aresti    

© Translation: Toni Strubell    

centuries
Basquepoetry is a project of the Susa publishing house for the diffusion of Basque poetry