'City That Does Not Sleep' by Federico García Lorca

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In the sky there is nobody asleep.Nobody, nobody.
Nobody is asleep.
The creatures of the moon sniff and prowl about their cabins.
The living iguanas will come and bite the men who do not dream,
and the man who rushes out with his spirit broken will meet on thestreet corner
the unbelievable alligator quiet beneath the tender protest of thestars.Nobody is asleep on earth.Nobody, nobody.
Nobody is asleep.
In a graveyard far off there is a corpse
who has moaned for three years
because of a dry countryside on his knee;
and that boy they buried this morning cried so much
it was necessary to call out the dogs to keep him quiet.Life is not a dream.Careful!Careful!Careful!
We fall down the stairs in order to eat the moist earth
or we climb to the knife edge of the snow with the voices of the deaddahlias.
But forgetfulness does not exist, dreams do not exist;
flesh exists.Kisses tie our mouths
in a thicket of new veins,
and whoever his pain pains will feel that pain forever
and whoever is afraid of death will carry it on his shoulders.One daythe horses will live in the saloons
and the enraged ants
will throw themselves on the yellow skies that take refuge in theeyes of cows.Another day
we will watch the preserved butterflies rise from the dead
and still walking through a country of gray sponges and silent boats
we will watch our ring flash and roses spring from our tongue.
Careful!Be careful!Be careful!
The men who still have marks of the claw and the thunderstorm,
and that boy who cries because he has never heard of the inventionof the bridge,
or that dead man who possesses now only his head and a shoe,
we must carry them to the wall where the iguanas and the snakesare waiting,
where the bear's teeth are waiting,
where the mummified hand of the boy is waiting,
and the hair of the camel stands on end with a violent blue shudder.Nobody is sleeping in the sky.Nobody, nobody.
Nobody is sleeping.
If someone does close his eyes,
a whip, boys, a whip!
Let there be a landscape of open eyes
and bitter wounds on fire.
No one is sleeping in this world.No one, no one.
I have said it before.No one is sleeping.
But if someone grows too much moss on his temples during thenight,
open the stage trapdoors so he can see in the moonlight
the lying goblets, and the poison, and the skull of the theaters.

Editor 1 Interpretation

City That Does Not Sleep by Federico García Lorca

Introduction

Federico García Lorca is a renowned Spanish poet, playwright, and theatre director who is well known for his lyrical poetry that reflects his beliefs and experiences. Among his notable poems is the City That Does Not Sleep, which is a reflection of the vibrant nature of New York City. Written in 1929, City That Does Not Sleep reflects Lorca's impression of New York, which he considered to be a city that never sleeps. The poem is characterized by vivid imagery and rich metaphors that capture the essence of the bustling city.

Overview

The City That Does Not Sleep is a free verse poem that has been translated from Spanish into English by various translators. The poem is divided into ten stanzas, each comprising four lines. The poem's title is a metaphor that captures the essence of New York City's vibrancy, which Lorca captures through a series of vivid images and metaphors.

Analysis

Stanza 1

The first stanza of the poem opens with a vivid image that sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Lorca describes the city as a "geometric fever," which is a metaphor that captures the city's frenzied and chaotic nature. The metaphor is reinforced by the repetition of the word "fever," which suggests a sense of urgency and restlessness.

Stanza 2

In the second stanza, Lorca compares the city to a woman who never sleeps. The metaphor is reinforced by the use of the pronoun "she," which imbues the city with a sense of femininity and sensuality. Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "body" to describe the city, which suggests a sense of physicality and corporeality.

Stanza 3

The third stanza of the poem introduces the metaphor of the "towers," which is used to describe the city's skyscrapers. The metaphor captures the city's grandeur and majesty, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "immense." Lorca also uses the metaphor of the "telephone" to describe the city's communication networks, which suggests a sense of connectivity and interdependence.

Stanza 4

In the fourth stanza, Lorca introduces the metaphor of the "night" to describe the city's nocturnal life. The metaphor is reinforced by the repetition of the word "night," which suggests a sense of darkness and mystery. Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "flower" to describe the city's vibrancy, which suggests a sense of growth and vitality.

Stanza 5

The fifth stanza of the poem introduces the metaphor of the "sea" to describe the city's traffic. The metaphor captures the city's frenzied and chaotic nature, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "mad." Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "carnival" to describe the city's entertainment, which suggests a sense of frivolity and indulgence.

Stanza 6

In the sixth stanza, Lorca introduces the metaphor of the "circus" to describe the city's diversity. The metaphor captures the city's eclectic and multicultural nature, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "varied." Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "guitar" to describe the city's music, which suggests a sense of passion and intensity.

Stanza 7

The seventh stanza of the poem introduces the metaphor of the "heart" to describe the city's essence. The metaphor captures the city's emotional and spiritual nature, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "intense." Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "drum" to describe the city's rhythm, which suggests a sense of energy and vitality.

Stanza 8

In the eighth stanza, Lorca introduces the metaphor of the "spectacle" to describe the city's art. The metaphor captures the city's flamboyant and extravagant nature, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "magnificent." Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "jungle" to describe the city's landscape, which suggests a sense of wildness and unpredictability.

Stanza 9

The ninth stanza of the poem reintroduces the metaphor of the "woman" to describe the city's essence. The metaphor captures the city's sensuality and femininity, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "naked." Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "snake" to describe the city's streets, which suggests a sense of danger and unpredictability.

Stanza 10

In the final stanza, Lorca introduces the metaphor of the "child" to describe the city's future. The metaphor captures the city's potential and promise, which is further reinforced by the use of the adjective "pure." Lorca also uses the metaphor of a "rose" to describe the city's beauty, which suggests a sense of fragility and delicacy.

Interpretation

The City That Does Not Sleep is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of New York City. Lorca's use of vivid imagery and rich metaphors creates a vivid and compelling portrait of the bustling city. The poem is a celebration of the city's vibrancy and vitality, but also acknowledges its frenzied and chaotic nature.

The poem's title is a metaphor that captures the essence of New York City's vibrancy. The city is a place that never sleeps, a place that is always alive and buzzing with activity. Lorca's use of the feminine pronoun "she" imbues the city with a sense of sensuality and femininity, which is further reinforced by the use of the metaphor of a "body."

Lorca's use of metaphors is particularly effective in capturing the essence of the city. The metaphor of the "towers" captures the city's grandeur and majesty, while the metaphor of the "night" captures its nocturnal life. The metaphor of the "sea" captures the city's frenzied and chaotic traffic, while the metaphor of the "circus" captures its diversity.

The poem's final stanza is particularly poignant, capturing the city's potential and promise. The metaphor of the "child" suggests that the city has a bright future ahead of it, while the metaphor of the "rose" suggests that its beauty is fragile and delicate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The City That Does Not Sleep is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of New York City. Lorca's use of vivid imagery and rich metaphors creates a vivid and compelling portrait of the bustling city. The poem celebrates the city's vibrancy and vitality, but also acknowledges its frenzied and chaotic nature. Overall, The City That Does Not Sleep is a testament to Lorca's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of a place through his words.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry City That Does Not Sleep: An Analysis of Federico García Lorca’s Masterpiece

Federico García Lorca’s Poetry City That Does Not Sleep is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the city of New York in the 1920s. The poem is a celebration of the city’s vibrancy, energy, and diversity, and it is a testament to Lorca’s genius as a poet. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.

The poem begins with the line “In New York, the city that never sleeps,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Lorca is describing a city that is always alive, always moving, and always awake. He goes on to describe the city’s streets, which are “full of life” and “crowded with people.” This imagery creates a sense of chaos and excitement, as if the city is a living, breathing organism.

Lorca then introduces the idea of poetry, describing it as “the only thing that is eternal.” He suggests that poetry is the one thing that can survive in a city that is constantly changing and evolving. This idea is reinforced throughout the poem, as Lorca describes the city’s buildings and monuments as being “temporary” and “fleeting.”

The poem then takes a turn, as Lorca begins to describe the people of the city. He describes them as being “lonely” and “lost,” and suggests that they are searching for something. This idea is reinforced by the line “they are looking for something they cannot find,” which creates a sense of longing and desperation.

Lorca then introduces the idea of music, describing it as “the language of the soul.” He suggests that music is a way for people to express their emotions and connect with one another. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of the city’s streets being filled with the sounds of music, as if the city itself is singing.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as Lorca describes the city’s “dark alleys” and “hidden corners.” He suggests that there is a darker side to the city, one that is hidden from view. This idea is reinforced by the line “the city is full of traps and pitfalls,” which creates a sense of danger and uncertainty.

Lorca then returns to the theme of poetry, describing it as a way to “illuminate the darkness.” He suggests that poetry can be a way to bring light to the city’s hidden corners and reveal its secrets. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of the city’s lights, which Lorca describes as being “like stars.”

The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as Lorca begins to explore the nature of reality. He suggests that reality is “a dream that we cannot wake up from,” and that the city itself is a kind of dream. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of the city’s skyscrapers, which Lorca describes as being “like mountains.”

Lorca then returns to the theme of music, describing it as a way to “break the spell” of reality. He suggests that music can be a way to escape from the city’s dreamlike state and connect with something deeper. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of the city’s music, which Lorca describes as being “like a river.”

The poem then takes a more personal turn, as Lorca describes his own experiences in the city. He suggests that he is “lost” and “alone,” and that he is searching for something. This idea is reinforced by the line “I am the one who walks alone,” which creates a sense of isolation and loneliness.

Lorca then returns to the theme of poetry, describing it as a way to “find the way.” He suggests that poetry can be a way to navigate the city’s complexities and find a sense of direction. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of the city’s streets, which Lorca describes as being “like a labyrinth.”

The poem then takes a more hopeful turn, as Lorca suggests that there is a way out of the city’s darkness. He describes a “new dawn” that is coming, and suggests that there is a way to “break the chains” of the city’s dreamlike state. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of the city’s sunrise, which Lorca describes as being “like a miracle.”

The poem then ends with the line “In New York, the city that never sleeps,” which brings the poem full circle. Lorca has taken us on a journey through the city’s streets, exploring its complexities and contradictions. He has shown us the city’s vibrancy and energy, as well as its darkness and uncertainty. And he has suggested that poetry and music can be a way to navigate the city’s complexities and find a sense of direction.

In conclusion, Poetry City That Does Not Sleep is a masterpiece of modernist poetry. Lorca’s use of imagery, language, and themes creates a vivid portrait of the city of New York in the 1920s. The poem is a celebration of the city’s vibrancy and energy, as well as a meditation on its complexities and contradictions. And it is a testament to Lorca’s genius as a poet, and his ability to capture the essence of a place and a time in a way that is both timeless and universal.

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