Santosh Kumar Pokharel
I know poet Antonio Jose Caralps (who often signs his works as “El Ogro” ) as a prolific and untiring Spanish poet and editor for the last few years. He has written thousands of poems in Spanish, many addressing contemporary global issues—war, poverty, injustice, and the yearning for peace. His work is characterized by raw sincerity, profound empathy for the marginalized, and a steadfast critique of systemic oppression. UNIDOS (UNITED), composed on April 30, 2025, in the quiet Aragonese town of San Agustín, Teruel, stands as a potent addition to his body of work. It distills his signature themes while delivering a lyrical yet urgent plea for unity and resistance against systems of violence and greed.
Structure and Style
The poem adopts a free-verse structure, with stanzas of varying lengths that mirror the shifting tides of its emotional intensity. Caralps employs a rhythmic, almost chant-like quality in his phrasing, evident in lines such as:
“Quecuandosuenan a verdad / se consiguengrandescosas.”
(“That when they ring true / great things are achieved.”)
The absence of rigid meter amplifies the poem’s organic, impassioned tone, evoking the spirit of a manifesto declaimed in a public square—a hallmark of Caralps’ style. His language is direct yet poetic, prioritizing clarity and urgency over ornate flourishes.
Themes and Message
The central theme of ‘UNIDOS’ is the clash between collective hope and the forces that seek to suppress it. The poem begins with a call for unity—precious words uniting “dreams of freedom”—but swiftly pivots to a lament on the corrupting nature of power:
“Perosiemprepasaigual / con él miserable ser. / Quetodo lo transformaen mal / con suansia de poder.”
(“But it always happens the same / with that wretched being, / who twists all into evil / with his thirst for power.”)
Caralps critiques not only tyranny but also societal complacency. He mourns the erosion of solidarity, replaced by blind obedience, and the valorization of mercenary pragmatism over courage. The lines—
“Ya no se desea el valiente / yadejó de sernecesario. / Se contrata al obediente / a podersermercenario.”
(“The brave are no longer desired, / they’ve ceased to be necessary. / The obedient are hired, / preferably mercenaries.”)
—offer a scathing indictment of a world that rewards complicity over conscience.
The recurring motif of Bridges symbolizes the need for connection, yet the poem acknowledges that many remain trapped in a “cruel nightmare,” unable to cross into liberation. Imagery of wind and whispers evokes fleeting acts of resistance, often drowned out by indifference. The final stanzas crescendo into a condemnation of militarization, framing war as both an industry and an inevitability:
“Siempre entre el plomo y el acero / se fabrica el carro de combate.”
(“Always between lead and steel / the war machine is built.”)
Emotional Impact
UNIDOS strikes a delicate balance between despair and defiance. While its middle sections ache with disillusionment, Caralps clings to the possibility of change. The closing plea—“Peroqueceseya la locura” (“But let this madness cease”)—resonates as both protest and prayer.
Conclusion
Antonio Jose Caralps’ UNIDOS reaffirms his poetic mission: to confront oppression while nurturing hope. Though some may deem his style unrefined compared to classical lyricism, its power lies in its immediacy and moral conviction. This poem does not merely describe injustice—it roars against it, demanding awakening. In an era of global conflict and deepening inequality, Caralps’ voice remains as vital as ever.
My Final Verdict
This is a raw, urgent, and deeply human work that looks cementing Caralps’ legacy as a poet of the people.
[The reviewer is a global polyglot poet from Nepal.].
UNITED
To the dreams of freedom
precious words joined in.
That when they ring true
great things are achieved.
But it always happens the same
with that wretched being,
who twists all into evil
with his lust for power.
Yet some of us keep thinking
of changing the moments,
because everything keeps moving
on the strength of good foundations.
Because to improve,
all people must
first be made equal
and build good bridges.
Ones through which we all advance
always toward the other shore,
though not all of us make it
past the cruel nightmare.
Wrapped in the wind
that rushes unhurried,
always at every moment
in the form of a breeze.
That breeze that brings the echo
always from outside,
like a dry shout
but filled with much pain.
It speaks of truth,
it speaks of lethargy,
it says that loneliness
has a bitter taste.
That life is lost
through so much doubt,
so it invites you
always to help another.
But it is condemned to fail,
or peace is left captive.
Now no one listens to it,
no one is motivated anymore.
The brave are no longer desired,
they’ve ceased to be necessary.
The obedient are hired instead,
preferably mercenaries.
It’s the safest bet,
the one not forgotten,
for surely in the future
it will hold great added value.
With the support and reason
that always remains imprinted,
because the one who sells ammunition
owns a great enterprise.
For it is certain
the bet is covered,
whether by open war
or by covert war.
Since from the very first day,
without any debate,
always between lead and steel,
the war machine is built.
But let this madness end now,
so many thousands of millions
spent to create bitterness
within military expenses.
30-04-2025 San Agustín, Teruel, Aragón. Spain
D.R.A: Antonio Jose CaralpsSobrera, El Ogre.
