José Santos Chocano

José Santos Chocano Gastañodi (14 May 1875 – 13 December 1934) was a Peruvian poet and political activist, whose work was widely praised across Europe and Latin America.

Quotes

• Inmóvil como un ídolo sagrado,
  ceñido en mallas de compacto acero,
  está ante el agua estático y sombrío,

  a manera de un príncipe encantado
  que vive eternamente prisionero
  en el palacio de cristal de un río.

  • Translation:
    Unmoving as a venerated idol
    Encased in dense links of steel
    Outlined against the water, sombre and transfixed

    Like some enchanted prince
    Held prisoner forever
    In the river’s crystal palace.

  • El sueño del caimán (Dream of a Caiman), translated by Jean Morris (1906)

• Soy el cantor de América autóctono y salvaje:
  mi lira tiene un alma, mi canto un ideal.
  Mi verso no se mece colgado de un ramaje
  con un vaivén pausado de hamaca tropical.
  • Translation:
    I am the aboriginal and savage singer of America;
    my lyre has a soul, my song has an ideal.
    My poetry does not swing from the branches
    With the slow movement of a tropical hammock.
  • 1906, Alma América, 'Blasón' (translated as 'Blazon', 1935)