From Abatí to Castro: Poetry That Transcends Translation with Actor Yaiza Freire-Bernat

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Hello Creatives,

Poetry has always possessed a unique ability to express what ordinary language cannot, and this becomes even more fascinating when experiencing it across different languages.
In our final guest reader episode of 2023, actor and writer Yaiza Freire-Bernat takes us on a mesmerising journey through Spanish poetry, reading selections in both their original Spanish and English translations.

Drawing from her half-British, half-Spanish heritage, Yaiza brings a personal connection to these works that resonates throughout her readings.
She begins with "El Conde Sisebuto" by Joaquín Abatí Díaz, a prose piece her grandmother frequently recited, transforming it from mere text into a living connection between generations.
This gothic yet surprisingly humorous tale sets the stage for the more contemplative poems that follow.
As we move into Rosalía de Castro's poetry, we witness how Castro masterfully uses nature as a vehicle for expressing complex emotions that conventional language struggles to capture.
Through waves crashing on beaches, frost-covered fields, and changing seasons, Castro explores profound questions about time, loneliness, and the human condition.

What makes this episode particularly special is the opportunity to experience how certain feelings resonate differently between languages.
As Yaiza shifts between Spanish and English, we can hear how rhythm, sonority, and cultural context shape our emotional understanding.
Castro's observation that "sometimes a single thought is enough to fill the world" takes on new dimensions when experienced in both linguistic traditions, allowing listeners to glimpse feelings that might otherwise remain unexpressed.
Whether you speak Spanish or not, these bilingual readings offer a rare window into how language shapes our perception of emotions and the world around us.

Ready to explore the beauty of poetry across languages? Listen now, and if you enjoy this journey through Spanish literary traditions, consider sharing this episode with friends who appreciate multilingual experiences or the power of poetry to transcend cultural boundaries.

Sleep Tight,

Florence x

The Music in this episode is Cozy Winter Days by Anthony Catacoli.

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Sleepless Creatives is hosted by Florence St Leger, and produced by Canary Studios.
The opening theme is Reflection by Birds of Norway.