The physical presentation of the poem has also become art. In 2012, a special edition of "El Apellido" was published by Editorial Cuadernos Papiro in Holguín, Cuba, as a hand-bound, limited-edition broadside. This version features the poem in a large 14-by-13-inch format, printed with a sans serif font using century-old equipment. The art includes a collagraph of words related to the title poem, created from lead type, with each of the 100 copies receiving different inking, making every edition unique. It remains a highly sought-after item for collectors of Cuban poetry.
Analyze other poems by , such as "Sóngoro Cosongo" or "Sensemayá" .
Other notable collections containing translations of his work include: el apellido nicolas guillen english translation
: Guillén argues that his African surname was "dissolved in inmemorial ink" by those who enslaved his ancestors, replacing his heritage with the Spanish names of masters. Identity & Transculturation : As a leading figure in the Negritude movement
Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos , meaning "victory of the people" ( nikē = victory; laos = people). The physical presentation of the poem has also become art
He stood up and continued walking slowly down the street, asking the wind for a name it would never give him.
¿Eh, ¿usted? Sí, yo. ¿Cómo dice? ¡Que me roben el apellido! The art includes a collagraph of words related
: Many of his poems are inspired by the son , an Afro-Cuban musical form. While "El Apellido" is more elegiac than his earlier rhythmic works like Motivos de son , it maintains his career-long commitment to making Black culture a legitimate focus of Cuban literature.
Throughout his career, Guillén received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to literature. He passed away on October 16, 1989, in Havana, Cuba.
If you are analyzing this poem for an assignment, you might explore how it connects to . Would you like to focus on specific poetic devices Guillén uses, or perhaps compare it to his other famous work, Ballad of the Two Grandfathers ? Share public link
: The poem is available in anthologies like My Last Name / El Apellido , translated by Roberto Márquez.