Poetry by Antonio Machado

Antonio Machado y Ruiz was a Spanish poet, a late member of the literary movement Generation of '98. He was born on 26 July 1875 in Seville, in a liberal family, very interested in culture, and especially in folklore. His grandfather was a rector of the University of Seville and one of the explainers and introducers of Darwinism in Spain. His father was a lawyer and a distinguished folklorist. He had a borther, Manuel, who was, like him, a noted poet and a member of the Generation of '98.

The two brothers, Los Machado

He spent his childhood in Seville and in 1883 moved with his family to Madrid, which is why he has said (please, see the references) that his teens and youth were madrileños (Madrilenian). He was very religious, much of his works look at the essence of human nature and tackle the First Book of Moses, called Genesis.

A sample of Antonio Machado's handwriting

He got married at the age of 34, with his wife, Leonor, being only 16 years old. Sadly, she passed away young, already two years later. Having found the love of his life in her, Antonio Machado wound up the best poet of his kind, writing the most beautiful love poetry for 25 more years after his beloved wife died. I have hardly ever heard of anything more romantic in my life.

Antonio and Leonor on their wedding day

One more curiosity about him: he himself died in 1939 at the age of 63, three days before his old and sickly mother. For the list of his works see here.

Here's a short documentary subtitled in English that features his poetical writings and shows his life and the women behind him, directed, photographed and produced by Cisco Bermejo in 2003.

Here you have a Machado's video poem “Cantares” (with English subtitles), presented in a typical style - sung by Joan Manuel Serrat.

And a video poem recited in English. This is a lovely piece, written 110 years ago, very well translated and nicely read by an American poet Robert Bly.

I also want to highlight some amazing school projects the young learners from Spain have produced that relate to the life and works of Antonio Machado, reciting his poetry and calling it “machadian” rap (rap machadiano), and this not only presenting their rapping skills, but showing off their video clip directing, shooting and editing skills as well. I'm simply overwhelmed by the awesomeness of it all.

For not all being uploadable, I add the links to two other versions of “Caminante no hay camino” (young adults' and children's), and to the following pieces of poetry: "El viajero", "Parábolas" and a fragment of "Proverbios y cantares".

And something out of school, an excellent amateur approach. Love it.