Rafael Morales is one of the most lyrical and humanistic poets of the post-civil-war era in Spain. Whether describing a solitary lover, a fighting bull, or an old jacket, he evokes the lyricism he perceives in all things. Among contemporary Spanish poets he has been admired for his innocence and the childlike love of all people that serves as a base for his poetic explorations.

Born in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, on 31 July 1919, Morales grew up during the turbulent periods of King Alfonso XIII's reign, of the short-lived Republic, and of the civil war. Morales remained in his hometown to complete his bachillerato, but moved to Madrid to pursue the licenciatura in romance philology at the University of Madrid. During World War II he received a scholarship to study in the Facultad de Letras de Coimbra in Portugal. Since that time he has written several articles on...