The varied weather conditions of the last few months in a large part of the country, caused the non-realization of many cultural events on their usual date, among them the event “Blancolvido” that commemorates the 70th anniversary of the death of the outstanding Cuban poet and essayist Emilio Ballagas, which occurred on September 11, 1954, in Havana.
The writers and poets of this Holguin municipality of Calixto García, were finally able to remember passages of the life and work of the cult son of Camagüey, who in his hectic walk also left his mark here in Buenaventura.
[Daer Pozo Ramírez, outstanding poet from Calixto, pays tribute to Emilio Ballagas.] Daer Pozo Ramírez, outstanding poet from Calixto, pays tribute to Emilio Ballagas.
"Emilio Ballagas, poet and essayist, Doctor in Pedagogy, passed away seven decades ago to immortality, leaving behind a colossal work, especially in Neoromanticism and Cuban black poetry, he also left beautiful memories of his brief stay in our town," with these words, the writer and researcher Daer Pozo Ramírez, opened the Blancolvido event, which has been held annually in Calixteño territory for several years.
Other prominent minstrels joined in the remembrance of the passage through these parts of such an outstanding bard, among them, the most veteran Don Ramón Acosta Almaguer, who recalled family ties: "I always heard and then read about Ballagas' humility, and even his somewhat humorous or funny way of obtaining information about a topic of interest to him, for example, the rituals of spiritualism in this area."
Thus, between anecdotes and reading of Emilio's great poems, a memorable day passed. Jubilee and Fugue, Elegy without a Name, Nocturne and Elegy, among others, were declamations in the voice of Pozo Ramírez, which drew vibrant applause.
[Idelmar Cordero Gómez (left) new leader of the Workshop that bears the name of Emilio Ballagas and Ramón Acosta Almaguer considered the Dean of Calixteña poetry.] Idelmar Cordero Gómez (left) new leader of the Workshop that bears the name of Emilio Ballagas and Ramón Acosta Almaguer considered the Dean of Calixteña poetry.
The Blancolvido event also served as a pretext to introduce the new leader of the municipality's Literary Workshop, researcher Idelmar Cordero Gómez, who expressed his gratitude for having been asked to take on a responsibility so dear to his taste: "In fact, I am satisfied with the response to my first call. We are thinking of various activities that should be very enjoyable and always thinking of collective participation, which is where the strength lies. This reminder of Ballagas' work will serve as a starting point for new and gratifying endeavours by poets and writers of this land."
