What is poetry? you ask while

Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.

It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net

If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.

Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 - 1870)

Translation © by Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit

¿Qué es poesía? dices mientras clavas

Language: Spanish (Español)

Our translations: ENG

  ¿Qué es poesía? dices mientras clavas
En mi pupila tu pupila azul;
¡Qué es poesía! ¿Y tú me le preguntas?
	Poesía... eres tú!

About the headline (FAQ)

1885 version:

  ¿Qué es poesía? dices mientras clavas
En mi pupila tu pupila azul;
¿Qué es poesía? ¿Y tú me lo preguntas?
	Poesía... eres tú.

Confirmed with Obras de Gustavo A. Bécquer, tomo segundo, Rimas, Madrid: Imprenta de T. Fortanet, 1871, page 270. Also confirmed with Obras de Gustavo A. Bécquer, cuarta edición aumentada con varias poesías y leyendas, tomo tercero, Rimas, Madrid: Librería de Fernando Fé, 1885, page 159.

Text Authorship:

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 - 1870), no title, appears in Rimas, no. 21, Madrid, Imprenta de T. Fortanet, first published 1871 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Roberto Sierra (b. 1953), "¿Qué es poesía? dices mientras clavas", alternate title: "¿Qué es poesía? dices mientras clavas", 1996/1999? [ medium voice and piano ], from Rimas, no. 1, Subito Music Corporation [sung text not yet checked]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Ricardo (or Richard) Jordan (1857 - 1902) , no title, appears in Spanische Lieder von Gustavo Adolfo Becquer ins deutsche übertragen ; composed by Hans Hermann.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2010-09-04
Line count: 4
Word count: 24

What is poetry? you ask while

Language: English after the Spanish (Español)

What is poetry? you ask while
your blue eyes stare into mine.
What is poetry! You're asking me?
Poetry...is you.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © 2018 by Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Spanish (Español) by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 - 1870), no title, appears in Rimas, no. 21, Madrid, Imprenta de T. Fortanet, first published 1871
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2018-08-03
Line count: 4
Word count: 20