Mira cómo se mece una vez y otra vez, virgen de flor y rama, en el aire de ayer. (с)
Lorca always hated goodbyes - and it was particularly difficult for him to take his leave of Argentina. On his last night he begged his friends to pretend the following day that they were only seeing him off to the resort of Tigre, further up the river Plate, and that they would meet again soon. Otherwise he would be unable to put a brave face on things. When the moment came, and the poet, Fontanals and the latter's daughter Rosa Maria were driven to the Conte Biancamano, a huge crowd was at the quayside to see Lorca off. Before the final parting the poet made a typical gesture, handing his friends a packet with the injunction that they were "to continue the party". When Pablo Neruda and the poet Amado Villar opened it after the boat had sailed, expecting to find sweets or something like that, they were confronted by a thick wad of banknotes. It was the final proof, as if any were ever needed, of the poet's generosity. He wanted to earn money, certainly, but he always prepared to let other people spend it.
(c) Ian Gibson
(c) Ian Gibson