Plaza de la Constitución

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Literature · Subcategory: Literary fragments · Year: 1920 · Authors: Juan Pérez Delgado "Nijota"

Juan Pérez Delgado "Nijota" (La Laguna, 1898-Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1973), was a prominent writer, playwright and poet, author of numerous verses from the typical Canarian songbook, lyricist of isas, folías and malagueñas, as well as an illustrious member of the Ateneo lagunero literary gatherings, where he won some literary prizes from a very young age. With his characteristic rhymed humour he dedicated numerous writings to Santa Cruz where he lived, collected in the book entitled Verso y prosa published by the Caja de Ahorros (Savings Bank) in 1971. Among the countless satirical poems dedicated to Santa Cruz, special interest lies in the one written in 1920 describing, with his usual sarcasm, the atmosphere of the Plaza de la Candelaria, also known as Plaza de la Constitución, writing the following:

«Women who come and go

music, laughter, "flirtation"

here a Mephisto, there a Don Juan

Plaza de la Constitución.

The moving crowd bubbles.

They pass in rapid sway

the impertinent young lady

and the reckless "well-off boy".

In the multifarious figures

of that singular promenade

the green uniforms triumph

of the military caste.

There, gallant and talkative,

soldiers cross fiercely,

from Artillery, Infantry,

Cavalry and Engineers.

In the charming atmosphere

of that square, one falls in love

or tries to. There one worships

our father Don Amor.

There on the benches and chairs,

watching over the great square,

the mothers keep vigil, how simple!,

in case some suitor misbehaves.

And hearing the rogue chatter

of the elegant ladies' man,

the wild sea vibrates opposite.

It is a great old lecher, the sea!

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