Arbolé, arbolé,
This poem by Federico García Lorca uses vivid imagery and repetition to convey a sense of timelessness and connection to nature. The recurring motif of the tree, described as both dry and green, symbolizes the duality of life and nature's resilience. The girl, absorbed in her task of picking olives, remains indifferent to the various suitors who try to entice her to different cities. This indifference highlights her connection to the land and her own inner world, untouched by external influences. The poem's structure, with its repetitive calls and the girl's consistent lack of response, emphasizes the theme of steadfastness and the allure of the natural world over human distractions. Lorca's use of color and light further enhances the sensory experience, painting a vivid picture of the Andalusian landscape and its cultural richness.
| Word | In Spanish | In English | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbolé | Árbol | Tree | Ar-bo-leh |
| seco | Sin agua | Dry | Seh-ko |
| y | E | And | Ee |
| verdí | Verde | Green | Ver-dee |
| La | La | The | Lah |
| niña | Chica | Girl | Nee-nya |
| del | De el | Of the | Del |
| bello | Hermoso | Beautiful | Beh-yo |
| rostro | Cara | Face | Ros-tro |
| está | Es | Is | Es-tah |
| cogiendo | Recogiendo | Picking | Ko-hen-do |
| aceituna | Oliva | Olive | Ah-say-too-nah |
| El | El | The | El |
| viento | Aire | Wind | Vyen-toh |
| galán | Caballero | Gallant | Ga-lan |
| de | De | Of | Deh |
| torres | Edificios altos | Towers | Tor-res |
| la | La | The | Lah |
| prende | Agarra | Grabs | Pren-deh |
| por | A través de | Through | Por |
| cintura | Cadera | Waist | Seen-too-rah |
| Pasaron | Cruzaron | Passed | Pa-sa-ron |
| cuatro | 4 | Four | Kwa-tro |
| jinetes | Caballeros | Horsemen | Hee-ne-tehs |
| sobre | Encima de | On | So-breh |
| jacas | Caballos | Ponies | Ha-kas |
| andaluzas | De Andalucía | Andalusian | An-da-loo-sas |
| con | Con | With | Kon |
| trajes | Ropas | Suits | Tra-hes |
| azul | Color azul | Blue | Ah-zool |
| verde | Color verde | Green | Ver-deh |
| largas | Extensas | Long | Lar-gas |
| capas | Mantos | Capes | Ka-pas |
| oscuras | Negras | Dark | Os-koo-ras |
| Vente | Ven | Come | Ven-teh |
| a | Hacia | To | Ah |
| Córdoba | Ciudad en España | City in Spain | Kor-do-bah |
| muchacha | Chica | Girl | Moo-cha-cha |
| no | No | Not | No |
| los | Ellos | Them | Los |
| escucha | Oye | Listens | Es-koo-cha |
| tres | 3 | Three | Tres |
| torerillos | Jóvenes toreros | Young bullfighters | To-re-ri-yos |
| delgaditos | Flacos | Slim | Del-ga-dee-tos |
| color | Tono | Color | Ko-lor |
| naranja | Anaranjado | Orange | Na-ran-ha |
| espadas | Armas largas | Swords | Es-pa-das |
| plata | Metal precioso | Silver | Pla-ta |
| antigua | Vieja | Ancient | An-tee-gwa |
| Sevilla | Ciudad en España | City in Spain | Seh-vee-ya |
| Cuando | En el momento que | When | Kwan-do |
| tarde | Atardecer | Afternoon | Tar-deh |
| se | Se | Itself | Seh |
| puso | Volvió | Turned | Poo-so |
| morada | Púrpura | Purple | Mo-ra-da |
| lux | Luz | Light | Luks |
| difusa | Suave | Diffuse | Dee-foo-sa |
| pasó | Cruzó | Passed | Pa-so |
| un | Uno | A | Oon |
| joven | Chico | Young man | Ho-ven |
| que | Quien | Who | Ke |
| llevaba | Traía | Carried | Ye-va-ba |
| rosas | Flores | Roses | Ro-sas |
| mirtos | Plantas | Myrtles | Meer-tos |
| luna | Satélite | Moon | Loo-na |
| Granada | Ciudad en España | City in Spain | Gra-na-da |
| sigue | Continúa | Continues | See-ge |
| brazo | Parte del cuerpo | Arm | Bra-zo |
| gris | Color gris | Gray | Grees |
| ceñido | Apretado | Wrapped | Se-nee-do |
Federico García Lorca (1898–1936) was a Spanish poet, playwright, and theatre director known for his contributions to the Generation of '27. His work often incorporated traditional Andalusian motifs and avant-garde styles. He was assassinated at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
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