Lorenzo Varela facts for kids
Xesús Lorenzo Varela Vázquez (born August 10, 1917, in Havana; died November 25, 1978, in Madrid) was a famous Galician poet. He is known for his beautiful poems, many of which he wrote in the Galician language.
Contents
A Poet's Journey: Lorenzo Varela's Life
Early Life and Youth in Galicia
Lorenzo Varela had a very unique start to life. He was actually born on a boat! His parents were emigrants from Galicia, a region in Spain, traveling to Havana, Cuba. Some people say this was a sign that he would spend much of his life living away from his home country.
After his birth, Varela returned to Galicia and grew up in the city of Lugo. As a young person, he was very active in the Federación de Mocedades Galeguistas, which was a group for young Galicians. They worked to promote Galician culture and identity.
Moving to Madrid and Political Involvement
In 1934, Varela moved to Madrid, the capital of Spain. There, he met other young poets and artists. He also joined the Communist Party of Spain. This was a political group that wanted to make big changes in society to help ordinary people.
Life in Exile: A Poet Far from Home
Spain went through a difficult time called the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. This was a big conflict between different groups in the country. After the war ended, Varela had to leave Spain because of his political beliefs. This is called living in "exile," meaning he had to live outside his home country.
He first went to France and then, in May 1939, moved to Mexico. In 1941, he moved again, this time to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Argentina, he met other Galicians who were also living in exile. It was during his time in Argentina that he wrote and published most of his poetry in the Galician language.
Returning Home and Last Years
In May 1976, a long-time leader of Spain, Francisco Franco, passed away. This meant that Varela could finally return to his home country. He settled in Madrid, where he lived for two more years until his death in 1978.
In 2005, a special day called the Día das Letras Galegas ("Galician Literature Day") was dedicated to Lorenzo Varela. This day celebrates important writers who have contributed to Galician literature.
Key Works by Lorenzo Varela
Here are some of the important books of poetry written by Lorenzo Varela:
- Catro poemas galegos pra catro grabados, 1944
- Lonxe, 1954
- Poesías, 1979
- Poesía galega, 1990
See also
In Spanish: Lorenzo Varela para niños
