{"id":144331,"date":"2024-02-18T19:38:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T00:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/spanish-poems\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T06:51:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T10:51:33","slug":"spanish-poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/spanish-poems\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Famous Spanish Poems (with Translations)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced learner, delving into the world of Spanish poems can be a delightful and rewarding experience.<\/p>\n

These 10 well-known Spanish poems are organized by skill level so you can easily find exactly where to start, plus\u00a0I’ll share some tips on how to approach reading poems in Spanish so you can get the most out of them.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
\n<\/p>\n

Spanish Poems for Beginners<\/h2>\n

Using children’s poetry is a brilliant way to bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate Spanish. Below are three poems by Douglas Wright, a famous writer of children’s poetry<\/a> from Argentina.<\/p>\n

His simple language and construction of imagery as perceived by a child makes it a good starting point for Spanish learners to get their feet wet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. “Bien tomados de la mano”<\/a><\/em> (Holding Hands Firmly) by Douglas Wright<\/h3>\n

This sweet poem about walking hand in hand with someone helps you learn a lot of useful day-to-day vocabulary. Plus, the repetition along with fun, childish imagery makes it very easy to memorize (especially if you break it up into four different sections).<\/p>\n

Qu\u00e9 lindo que es caminar,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\n bien tomados de la mano,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n por el barrio, por la plaza,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n \u00bfqu\u00e9 s\u00e9 yo?, por todos lados.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Qu\u00e9 lindo es mirar los \u00e1rboles,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n bien tomados de la mano,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n desde el banco de la plaza,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n en el que estamos sentados.<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Qu\u00e9 lindo es mirar el cielo\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n bien tomados de la mano;<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n en nuestros ojos, volando,<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n dos p\u00e1jaros reflejados.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Qu\u00e9 lindo que es caminar\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n bien tomados de la mano;<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n \u00a1qu\u00e9 lindo, andar por la vida<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n de la mano bien tomados!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

How nice it is to walk,
\nholding hands firmly,
\nthrough the neighborhood, through the plaza,
\nWhat do I know?, everywhere.<\/p>\n

How nice it is to look at the trees,
\nholding hands firmly,
\nfrom the bench in the plaza,
\nin which we are sitting.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

How nice it is to look at the sky
\nholding hands firmly;
\nin our eyes, flying,
\ntwo reflected birds.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

How nice it is to walk
\nholding hands firmly;
\nhow nice, to walk through life
\nwith hands held firmly!<\/p>\n

2. “Bajo la luna”<\/a> <\/em>(Under the Moon) by Douglas Wright<\/h3>\n

This quick, pretty poem is entirely about appreciating the silence. It begins and opens with the same phrase, meaning “everyone is quiet” and then lists everything that’s quiet on this night. A fun and short one to have stuck in your head!<\/p>\n

Todos callados,<\/strong><\/em>
\nbajo la luna;<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nel bosque, el lago,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nel cerro, el monte,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nbajo la luna,<\/em><\/strong>
\ntodos callados.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone is quiet,
\nunder the moon;
\nthe forest, the lake,
\nthe hill, the mountain,
\nunder the moon,
\neveryone is quiet.<\/p>\n

3. “El brillo de las estrellas”<\/em><\/a> (The Shine of the Stars) by Douglas Wright<\/h3>\n

\u00a0This sweet poem about the brilliance of the stars also brings up a couple of words most Spanish beginners probably won’t know, but these will definitely come in handy around the fourth of July (“fireworks: in Spanish are fuegos artificiales<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mejor que todos los fuegos<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nque llaman artificiales,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nel brillo de las estrellas,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nesos fuegos naturales.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Better than all fires
\nthey call artificial,
\nthe shine of the stars,
\nthose natural fires.<\/p>\n

Spanish Poems for Intermediate Learners<\/h2>\n

Once you have some children’s poetry under your belt, you can move on to simple poetry for adults. Don’t feel put off by classic Spanish poetry\u2014much of it is actually very accessible, even when it’s on the longer side! Check out our picks below.<\/p>\n

4. “Cancioncilla sevillana”<\/em><\/a> (Seville Song) by Federico Garc\u00eda Lorca<\/h3>\n

Playwright and poet\u00a0Federico Garc\u00eda Lorca<\/a> was born in the Andalusia region of Spain. He was the son of a wealthy landowner and grew up surrounded by the beauty of the land he loved. The countryside influenced his poetry.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCancioncilla Sevillana\u201d<\/em> draws from nature, but the poet also names a woman, leaving the reader to wonder just exactly what the author had in mind. This poem is short and sweet, which makes it ideal for Spanish language learners.<\/p>\n

Amanec\u00eda<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nen el naranjel.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nAbejitas de oro\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nbuscaban la miel.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00bfD\u00f3nde estar\u00e1<\/em><\/strong>
\nla miel?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nEst\u00e1 en la flor azul,<\/strong><\/em>
\nIsabel.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nEn la flor,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\ndel romero aquel.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

(Sillita de oro\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\npara el moro.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nSilla de oropel<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\npara su mujer.)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nAmanec\u00eda<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nen el naranjel.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dawn
\nin the orange grove.
\nGolden bees
\nwere looking for honey.
\nWhere could it be,
\nthe honey?
\nIt’s in the blue flower,
\nIsabel.
\nIn the flower,
\nof that rosemary.<\/p>\n

(Gold chair
\nfor the Moor.
\nTinsel chair
\nfor his wife.)
\nDawn
\nin the orange grove.<\/p>\n

5. \u201cViento, agua, piedra\u201d<\/em><\/a>\u00a0 (Wind, Water, Stone) by Octavio Paz<\/h3>\n

Octavio Paz<\/a> was a Mexican poet and essayist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990<\/a>. \u201cViento, agua, piedra\u201d <\/em>(\u201cWind, water, stone\u201d) speaks to the way that all is connected and beautifully paints a picture of how humans, nature and situations impact each other.<\/p>\n

A Roger Caillois<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nEl agua horada la piedra,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nel viento dispersa el agua,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nla piedra detiene al viento.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nAgua, viento, piedra.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

El viento esculpe la piedra,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nla piedra es copa del agua,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nel agua escapa y es viento.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nPiedra, viento, agua.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

El viento en sus giros canta,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nel agua al andar murmura,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nla piedra inm\u00f3vil se calla.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nViento, agua, pied<\/em>ra.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Uno es otro y es ninguno:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nentre sus nombres vac\u00edos\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\npasan y se desvanecen\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nagua, piedra, viento.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For Roger Caillois
\nThe water has hollowed the stone,
\nthe wind dispersed the water,
\nthe stone stopped the wind.
\nWater, wind, stone.<\/p>\n

The wind sculpts the stone,
\nthe stone is a cup of water,
\nthe water runs off and is wind.
\nStone, wind, water.<\/p>\n

The wind sings in its turnings,
\nthe water murmurs as it goes,
\nthe immovable stone is quiet.
\nWind, water, stone.<\/p>\n

One is the other and is neither:
\nAmong their empty names
\nthey pass and disappear
\nwater, stone, wind.<\/p>\n

6. \u201cOda a los calcetines\u201d<\/em><\/a> (Ode to My Socks) by Pablo Neruda<\/h3>\n

Pablo Neruda<\/a> was a Chilean poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971<\/a>. In <\/span>\u201cOda a los calcetines\u201d<\/em>(\u201cOde to My Socks\u201d), he compares a pair of socks he’s been gifted to many things, taking you on an image-filled journey.<\/p>\n

You might feel intimidated by the length, but the story-telling nature makes it easy to follow. It’s one of my favorite poems, and one of the first I learned to recite.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Me trajo Maru Mori<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nun par <\/em>de calcetines<\/em><\/strong>
\nque teji\u00f3 con sus manos de pastora,<\/strong><\/em>
\ndos calcetines suaves como liebres.<\/strong><\/em>
\nEn ellos <\/em>met\u00ed los pies<\/em><\/strong>
\ncomo en dos estuches\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\ntejidos con hebras del<\/em><\/strong>
\ncrep\u00fasculo <\/em><\/strong>y pellejo de ovejas.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Violentos calcetines,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nmis pies fueron dos pescados de lana,<\/em><\/strong>
\nde azul ultramarino<\/em><\/strong>
\natravesados <\/em>por una trenza de oro,<\/em><\/strong>
\ndos gigantescos mirlos,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\ndos ca\u00f1ones;<\/strong><\/em>
\nmis pies <\/em>fueron honrados de este modo\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\npor <\/em>estos <\/em>celestiales <\/em>calcetines.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Eran tan hermosos que por primera vez<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\nmis pies me parecieron inaceptables\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\ncomo dos decr\u00e9pitos bomberos,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nbomberos indignos de aquel fuego bordado,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nde aquellos luminosos calcetines.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sin embargo <\/em>resist\u00ed <\/em>la tentaci\u00f3n<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\naguda <\/strong><\/em>de guardarlos <\/em><\/strong>como los colegiales<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\n<\/em>preservan <\/em>las luci\u00e9rnagas,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>como los eruditos <\/em>coleccionan\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>documentos sagrados,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>resist\u00ed <\/em>el impulso furioso <\/em>de ponerlos<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/em>en una jaula <\/em>de oro <\/em>y darles cada\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nd\u00eda <\/strong><\/em>alpiste y <\/em>pulpa de mel\u00f3n rosado.<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Como descubridores <\/em>que en la selva\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>entregan el rar\u00edsimo <\/em>venado verde<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>al asador <\/em>y se lo comen <\/em>con remordimiento,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n<\/em>estir\u00e9 <\/em>los pies <\/em>y me enfund\u00e9<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>los <\/em>bellos <\/em>calcetines <\/em>y <\/em><\/strong>luego los zapatos.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Y es \u00e9sta <\/em>la moral de mi Oda:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n<\/em>dos veces es belleza <\/em>la belleza,<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/em>y lo que es bueno es doblemente <\/em>bueno,<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>cuando se trata de dos calcetines\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em>de lana <\/em>en el invierno.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Maru Mori brought me
\na pair of socks
\nthat she knitted herself with her sheepherder’s hands,
\ntwo socks as soft as rabbit fur.
\nInto them I slipped my feet
\nas though into two cases
\nknit with thread of
\ntwilight and sheepskin.<\/p>\n

Violent socks,
\nmy feet were two fish made of wool,
\ntwo large sharks
\nof sea-blue
\ncrossed by one golden thread,
\ntwo immense blackbirds,
\ntwo cannons;
\nmy feet were honored in this way
\nby these heavenly socks.<\/p>\n

They were so beautiful that for the first time
\nmy feet seemed to me unacceptable
\nlike two decrepit firemen,
\nfiremen unworthy of that woven fire,
\nof those glowing socks.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I resisted the sharp temptation
\n<\/em>to save them somewhere as schoolboys
\n<\/em>keep fireflies,
\n<\/em>as learned men collect
\n<\/em>sacred texts,
\n<\/em>I resisted the mad impulse to put them
\n<\/em>into a golden cage and give them every
\n<\/em>day birdseed and pink melon flesh.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Like explorers in the jungle
\n<\/em>who hand over the very rare green deer
\n<\/em>to the spit and eat it with remorse,
\n<\/em>I stretched out my feet and pulled on
\n<\/em>the magnificent socks and then my shoes.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

And this is the moral of my Ode:
\n<\/em>beauty is twice beauty,
\n<\/em>and what is good is doubly good,
\n<\/em>when it is a matter of two socks
\n<\/em>made of wool in winter.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cSoneto XVII\u201d<\/em><\/a> (Sonnet <\/strong>XVII) <\/strong>by Pablo Neruda<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Here’s another one by Pablo Neruda. This is one of the most celebrated poems in his collection “Cien sonetos de amor”<\/em> (One Hundred Love Sonnets). In it, he expresses his love for someone in a unique way, claiming that it’s simple and direct yet also secretive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio
\n<\/i>o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego:
\n<\/i>te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras,
\n<\/i>secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.
\n<\/i><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva
\n<\/i>dentro de s\u00ed, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores,
\n<\/i>y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo
\n<\/i>el apretado aroma que ascendi\u00f3 de la tierra.
\n<\/i><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Te amo sin saber c\u00f3mo, ni cu\u00e1ndo, ni de d\u00f3nde,
\n<\/i>te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo:
\n<\/i>as\u00ed te amo porque no s\u00e9 amar de otra manera,
\n<\/i><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

sino as\u00ed de este modo en que no soy ni eres,
\n<\/i>tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es m\u00eda,
\n<\/i>tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sue\u00f1o.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

I love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
\nor arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
\nI love you as certain dark things are loved,
\nsecretly, between the shadow and the soul.<\/p>\n

I love you as the plant that doesn\u2019t flower and carries
\nhidden within itself the light of those flowers,
\nand thanks to your love, darkly in my body
\nthe tight aroma that arose from the earth lives on.<\/p>\n

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
\nI love you directly without complexities or pride:
\nso I love you because I don\u2019t know any other way to love,<\/p>\n

except this way in which I am not nor are you,
\nso close that your hand on my chest is mine,
\nso close that your eyes close with my dreams.<\/p>\n

Spanish Poems for Advanced Learners<\/h2>\n

In addition to improving your language skills, more complex poetry is also a great way to advance your interest in different areas of Latin American culture. Many poems in Spanish denote the author’s preoccupations with events or themes in their home country.<\/p>\n

8. “Cultivo una rosa blanca”<\/em><\/a> (I Cultivate a White Rose) by Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ed<\/h3>\n

This poem by Cuban poet Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ed<\/a> has a repetitive element, but there’s a lot to dig into. Deceptively complex but still short and easy to memorize, this is a good poem to get you deeper into the language.<\/p>\n

Cuba has long been rife with churning political waters, and this author’s politician\/writer combination will appeal to history buffs. As a writer, Mart\u00ed is heralded as one of the fore-founders of Modernist literature in Latin America.<\/p>\n

Cultivo una rosa blanca<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>
\n en junio como enero<\/em><\/strong>
\n para el amigo sincero\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n que me da su mano franca.<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Y para el cruel que me arranca\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n el coraz\u00f3n con que vivo,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n cardo ni ortiga cultivo;<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n cultivo la rosa blanca.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I cultivate a white rose
\nin June and January
\nfor the true friend
\nwho gives me his sincere hand.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

And for the cruel one who rips out
\nthe heart with which I live,
\nI don’t cultivate the thistle or the nettle;
\nI cultivate the white rose.<\/p>\n

9. “Desde mi peque\u00f1a vida”<\/em><\/a> (From My Small Life) by Margarita Carrera<\/h3>\n

This powerful poem reflects on the injustice suffered by many people in Guatemala during the Civil War<\/a>. The author talks about those who died defending an ideal, in contrast to her small, insignificant life where she feels like she can\u2019t make much of a difference.<\/p>\n

Margarita Carrera<\/a> was born in the late 1920s, and her writing has tons of historical relevance as she was the first woman to graduate from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.<\/p>\n

Desde mi peque\u00f1a vida<\/em><\/strong>
\n te canto<\/em><\/strong>
\n hermano<\/strong><\/em>
\n y lloro tu sangre\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n por las calles derramada<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0
\n y lloro tu cuerpo<\/em><\/strong>
\n y tu andar perdido<\/em>.<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Ahora estoy aqu\u00ed<\/em><\/strong>
\n de nuevo contigo<\/strong><\/em>
\n hermano.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0
\n Tu sangre<\/em><\/strong>
\n es mi sangre<\/strong><\/em>
\n y tu grito se queda<\/em><\/strong>
\n en mis pupilas<\/em><\/strong>
\n en mi cantar mutilado.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

From my small life
\nI sing to you
\nbrother
\nand I cry your blood
\nshed in the streets
\nand I cry your body
\nand your lost walk.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Now I am here
\nagain with you
\nbrother.
\nYour blood
\nis my blood
\nand your scream stays
\nin my pupils
\nin my mutilated singing.<\/p>\n

10. “Walking around”<\/a> by Pablo Neruda<\/h3>\n

“Walking Around” is a more advanced poem by Pablo Neruda that talks about a man who seems to be going around normally about his everyday life. Deep down, though, he\u2019s feeling intense anger and despair about what it\u2019s like to be human in modern times.<\/p>\n

These are only the first three stanzas of the poem, but you can read the whole thing at the link above.<\/p>\n

Sucede que me canso de ser hombre.<\/em><\/strong>
\nSucede que entro en las sastrer\u00edas y en los cines<\/em><\/strong>
\nmarchito, impenetrable, como un cisne de fieltro<\/em><\/strong>
\nnavegando en un agua de origen y ceniza.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

El olor de las peluquer\u00edas me hace llorar a gritos.<\/em><\/strong>
\nS\u00f3lo quiero un descanso de piedras o de lana,<\/em><\/strong>
\ns\u00f3lo quiero no ver establecimientos ni jardines,<\/em><\/strong>
\nni mercader\u00edas, ni anteojos, ni ascensores.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sucede que me canso de mis pies y mis u\u00f1as<\/em><\/strong>
\ny mi pelo y mi sombra.<\/em><\/strong>
\nSucede que me canso de ser hombre.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It so happens I am sick of being a man.
\nAnd it happens that I walk into tailor shops and movie houses
\ndried up, waterproof, like a swan made of felt
\nsteering my way in a water of wombs and ashes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The smell of barbershops makes me break into hoarse sobs.
\nThe only thing I want is to lie still like stones or wool,
\nthe only thing I want is to see no more stores, no gardens,
\nno more goods, no spectacles, no elevators.<\/p>\n

It so happens that I am sick of my feet and my nails
\nand my hair and my shadow.
\nIt so happens I am sick of being a man.<\/p>\n

Tips for Reading Poems in Spanish<\/h2>\n

Poetry can be difficult to interpret even in your native language, so it’s completely understandable if these poems feel overwhelming to you. Here are my tips for making them more digestible:\u00a0<\/p>\n