Lorenzo Varela

In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisVarelaand the second or maternal family name isVázquez.

Lorenzo Varela

Xesús Lorenzo Varela Vázquez(August 10, 1917 inHavana– November 25, 1978 inMadrid) was aGalicianpoet.

Life

Varela was born in a boat, while his parents, emigrants fromGalicia,were going to Havana, Cuba. Some people consider it to be a kind of prophecy, as Varela lived in exile for most of his life.

Varela returned to Galicia and grew up inLugo.He was an active member of theFederación de Mocedades Galeguistas(Federation of Galician Youth).

In 1934 Varela moved toMadrid,where he contacted with the group PAN (Poetas Andantes y Navegantes, literally Walking and Sailing Poets — note that the abbreviation makes reference toPan,aGreek god,and is also theSpanishandGalicianword forbread) and with Misións Pedagóxicas (Pedagogic Missions). He also joined theCommunist Party of Spain(Partido Comunista de España or PCE).

After theSpanish Civil War(1936–1939), Varela left Spain, exiling himself first inFranceand then, in May 1939, inMexico.He moved toBuenos Airesin 1941, where he made contact with other exiled Galicians and emigrants from Galicia. He would publish most of his poetry, in the Galician language, while inArgentina.

In May 1976, after the death ofcaudilloFrancisco Franco,Varela decided to return to Spain. He finally settled in Madrid, where he lived until his death two years later.

TheDía das Letras Galegas( "Galician Literature Day" ) was dedicated to him in 2005.

Works

• Catro poemas galegos pra catro grabados, 1944
• Lonxe, 1954
• Federico García Lorca. Canciones y Poemas. Selection of poems byGarcía Lorcaread by Lorenzo Varela. Recording byDiscos QualitonQH-2000/2001
• Poesías, 1979
• Poesía galega, 1990