Alfredo Espino

Alfredo Espino (1900 August 1928) was a poet from El Salvador. Born in Ahuachapn, h
is only book is Jcaras Tristes (Sad Vessels), a collection of 96 poems. It is one
of the most published books of poetry in El Salvador. Espino died in San Salvad
or.
The author is widely read and commented in El Salvador but not usually studied o
r analyzed in his poetical expression. Espino assumes the national historical pr
oblem of the clash of social strata by looking through the colors, flavors and p
erfumes in the land and the culture of the country at the time he wrote his poem
s. His book of poems has a poetic and delicate tone with lyrical vision; present
ed/displayed with a simple style that is easy to understand and feel, therefore,
without formal complications. He wrote sonnets, romance and free verses. His wo
rk is very youthful and for that reason it may seem to lack creative vision acco
rding to some critics. The critics are wrong in such an opinion, of course, at l
east from the Salvadoran point of view. Espino's poetry is more descriptive and
visual in it content than any other poetry of Salvadoran poets, maybe with the o
nly exception of Salarru. An interesting note about Espino's poetry is that he di
d not live to see his poetry published.