The Poetry House's entrance hall. |
A young man plays a flute on the house's front steps. |
The room where Silva died of a gunshot to his heart. |
Silva died at 31, after seeing the deaths of four siblings, including his sister Elvira, with whom some say he was in love. He also suffered business failures and was heavily in debt. The Colombian government had sent him to work in its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. But during Silva's sea voyage home, the ship sank and he lost much of his work. Silva's surviving work totals 150 poems and one novel.
Not suprisingly, most of Silva's work is sad and sentimental, a lot of it about death and night.
The house's central patio, with Monserrate visible beyond it. |
The Casa de Poesia also pays tribute to many other Colombian poets and novelists.
Gonzalo Arango, 1931-76, was a leader of the Colombian philisophical movement called nadaism (nothingness), related to dadaism and nihilism.
"Life is a succession of happenstances and nothing is real. Only death."
Jorge Isaacs, 1837-95, (on the 50,000 peso bill), wrote the romantic novel Maria. The son of an Englishman from Jamaica, Isaacs was also a poet, soldier and businessman, had an eventful life, fighting in two of Colombia's civil wars. He was also a great advocate for free public education for working class people.
Jose Joaquin Casa, 1866-1951, was a politician, writer and educator. He's best known for his poem 'Cristobal Colon.' He founded Colombia's 'Academia de Historia' and headed the 'Academia de la Lengua.'
A caricature of Miguel Rash-Isla, born in 1889, who wrote lots of romantic poems - in both senses. The Secret: "I hold in my sad, restless heart a hidden love. Nobody has seen it, nor will ever see it...."
Poet Leon de Greiff, 1895-1976, and poet/journalist Carlos Castro Saavedra,1924-89.
Eduardo Carranza, 1913-85, was a poet and diplomat. He also directed several literary publications and headed the National Library. Lots of his poetry was about love, death and his nation.
By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours
Gonzalo Arango, 1931-76, was a leader of the Colombian philisophical movement called nadaism (nothingness), related to dadaism and nihilism.
"Life is a succession of happenstances and nothing is real. Only death."
Isaacs poses as a character from his novel 'Maria.' |
Jose Joaquin Casa, 1866-1951, was a politician, writer and educator. He's best known for his poem 'Cristobal Colon.' He founded Colombia's 'Academia de Historia' and headed the 'Academia de la Lengua.'
A caricature of Miguel Rash-Isla, born in 1889, who wrote lots of romantic poems - in both senses. The Secret: "I hold in my sad, restless heart a hidden love. Nobody has seen it, nor will ever see it...."
Poet Leon de Greiff, 1895-1976, and poet/journalist Carlos Castro Saavedra,1924-89.
Eduardo Carranza, 1913-85, was a poet and diplomat. He also directed several literary publications and headed the National Library. Lots of his poetry was about love, death and his nation.
By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours
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