its true by federico garcia lorca

it was a surprise to hear this moving and poignant poem recited at the end of the recent ‘Call the Midwife’ episode – such beautiful words.

It’s True
Ay, the pain it costs me
to love you as I love you!

For love of you, the air, it hurts,
and my heart,
and my hat, they hurt me.

Who would buy it from me,
this ribbon I am holding,
and this sadness of cotton,
white, for making handkerchiefs with?

Ay, the pain it costs me
to love you as I love you!

Federico Garcia Lorca

Lorca was renowned for using symbols in his writings – here are a few that he used often and their meanings.

The moon: it’s the most common symbol in Lorca’s works. It often means death, but it can also signify erotism, fertility, sterility or beauty.
Water: running water means life, vitality, but still water means death.
Blood: represents life, but spilled blood means death. It also symbolizes fertility and sex.
The horse (and its rider): quite frequent in Lorca’s texts, it’s related to death, life and men’s erotism.
Grasses: signify death.
Metals: their dominant meaning is death. Metals always appear as weapons, which always bring tragedy.