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)