Human Poems

Poemas humanos (Human Poems) is a significant poetry collection by Peruvian poet César Vallejo, published posthumously in 1939. The work reflects Vallejo's deep engagement with social issues, influenced by his experiences with poverty and injustice in Peru, and later by his political leanings towards Marxism.

The poems in Poemas humanos are characterized by their radical departure from traditional poetic forms, incorporating neologisms, colloquialisms, and striking imagery to express the disparity between human aspirations and the limitations imposed by society and existence. Vallejo sought to convey the human condition amidst an industrial society in crisis, marked by alienation and despair. This collection is considered a major voice of social change in Spanish American literature, reflecting the avant-garde movement of the time.12