Nicanor Parra

Nicanor Parra (1914-2018), full name Nicanor Segundo Parra Sandoval, was a Chilean poet and professor. He is known for specialization in 'anti-poetry', which was initially developed as response against Pablo Neruda's surrealism and against traditional lyric poetry.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Gravedigger, tell me the truth

Surely there must be some tribunal
Or are the worms our judges?
- Poemas y antipoems (Poems and Antipoems)

• Truth, like beauty, is neither created nor lost.

- Poemas y antipoems (Poems and Antipoems)

• Too much blood has run under the bridge

To go on believing
That only one road is right.

In poetry everything is permitted.

With only one condition, of course:
You must improve upon the blank page.
- Jovenes

Octavio Paz