Halos

Xosé María Díaz Castro (1914-1990) is considered one of the greatest exponents of twentieth-century Galician poetry, alongside such names as Álvaro Cunqueiro, Celso Emilio Ferreiro and Aquilino Iglesia Alvariño. He published only one book during his lifetime, "Halos". A short book, it comprises thirty-two poems divided into seven sections and containing one of the most emblematic of all Galician poems, "Penelope". The book embraces such themes as the writing of poetry, the poet's love for Galicia and his philosophical concerns, including his religious faith. Many of the poems were written in hendecasyllables and alexandrines and this translation by John Rutherford has set out to reproduce the metre as well as the meaning with remarkable success. The deep-seated concerns of this man, a translator and schoolteacher as well as a poet, are brought into English for the first time. Other titles in the series Galician Classics include: "Galician Songs" by Rosalía de Castro, "Long Night of Stone" by Celso Emilio Ferreiro, "Folks From Here and There" by Álvaro Cunqueiro and "Collected Poems" by Lois Pereiro.