Jarcha

One of the earliest poetic form in the Spanish peninsula—although some scholars start the study of Spanish poetry with this poetic form, I will argue that there was a wealth of poetry produced in Arabic and Hebrew before the “Reconquista”. The form was developed by the Arabs on the peninsula, Mozarabs. It produces a deep melancholy in the reader, as it usually is about unobtainable love or deep sadness and misfortune.

Student 1:
Read me some great poetry from Spain, maybe a Jarcha.

Student 2:
!Se nace acaso con mala suerte!
¡Quebrad, ojos míos, y doleos más aún!
~Yehuda Halevi (traduccion de Garcia Gomez)

by Raulito July 11, 2007