LORCA, Federico García 1898-1936, Spanish lyric poet and dramatist. His work reflects the spirit of his native Andalusia and his own passionate response to life. Gypsy Ballads (1928) made him the most popular Spanish poet of his generation, while Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter (1935) and The Poet in New York (1940) evidenced his growing maturity of thought. His plays, notably the tragedies Blood Wedding (1933) and The House of Bernarda Alba (1936), ensure his continuing international reputation. García Lorca was shot by Franco's soldiers at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

Besides being a talented writer, Lorca was also an accomplished artist and musician. He found inspiration for his work in the traditions of folk and gypsy songs, especially the fiery, bittersweet flamenco of his native Andalusia.
In 1922, Lorca and renowned composer Manuel de Falla organized the Fiesta del Cante Jondo, a folk music festival dedicated to the flamenco tradition of "deep song", the most profound style of flamenco singing.
Two of his most important poetic works, Poema del Cante Jondo and Romancero Gitano, reveal Lorca's attraction to flamenco, a lyrical form that expressed his musical, poetical and spiritual impulses.

GUITARRA
The cry of the guitar
begins.
The crystal goblets of dawn
shatter.
The cry of the guitar
begins.
It is useless to silence it.
It is impossible
to silence it.
It weeps monotonously
like water weeps,
like the wind wails
over the fallen snow.
It is impossible
to silence it.
It weeps for things
distant.
The sand of the hot South
aches for white camelias.
The arrow without target,
the evening without morning,
and the first bird
dead upon the branch,
weep.
O guitar-
heart grieviously wounded
by fives knives!

 Federico Garcia Lorca 

LA GUITARRA 

Empieza el llanto
de la guitarra. 
Se rompen las copas 
de la madrugada.
Empieza el llanto 
de la guitarra.
Es inútil callarla.
Es imposible 
callarla. 

Llora monótona 
como llora el agua,
como llora el viento 
sobre la nevada. 
Es imposible 
callarla. 
Llora por cosas 
lejanas.
Arena del Sur caliente 
que pide camelias blancas.

Llora flecha sin blanco,
la tarde sin mañana,
y el primer pájaro muerto 
sobre la rama.
Oh, guitarra! 
Corazón malherido 
por cinco espadas.