Description
BENSENES, EL TEMPS
Book Summary
A poetic work awarded the 48th Marià Manent Poetry Prize that explores memory, the passage of time, and identity from the unique perspective of Menorca. The term "bensenes," a Menorcan word meaning "surely" or "after all," sets the tone for a book that moves between historical evocation and the deepest emotions. With rigorous linguistic and metrical work, the author builds a collection of poems that is at once an elegy, a denunciation, and a celebration, inviting the reader to reflect on the bond between the individual, their land, and the inevitable passage of time.
What is it about?
Bensenes, el temps is a collection of poems that takes its title from a typical Menorcan word, used to express an almost certain assumption, which serves as a common thread to address the passage of time and memory. Through his verses, the author evokes the past with fascination and gratitude, but also with elegy and lamentation in the face of the identity crisis of the present. The omnipresence of Menorca acts as both setting and protagonist, integrating the territory into a reflection on the destruction of the natural environment and the loss of roots. The collection combines intimate emotion—love, wonder—with social and ecological denunciation, all sustained by precise language and careful metrics that the prize jury highlighted for their rigor and connection to the island's poetic universe.
Main themes
- The passage of time and memory, explored through historical and personal evocation.
- Cultural and territorial identity, centered on Menorca as a physical and symbolic space.
- Critique of the destruction of the natural environment and the identity crisis of the present.
- Fundamental human emotions: love, fascination, gratitude, elegy, and wonder.
- Linguistic and metrical rigor as a vehicle for poetic expression.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is recommended for readers interested in contemporary poetry in Catalan, especially those who value work with deep territorial roots and sensitivity toward historical memory and nature. It will also appeal to those seeking poetry that combines emotional introspection with social critique, as well as fans of Menorcan literature or the Marià Manent Prize.
What this book offers
- A poetic experience that connects emotional intimacy with reflection on territory and identity.
- An example of metrical and linguistic rigor, backed by a prestigious award.
- A critical and sensitive look at the ecological and cultural crisis of the present.
- The opportunity to discover the Menorcan universe through a consolidated poetic voice.
Technical specifications
- Author: Josep Cuello Subirana
- Publisher: Cossetània
- Language: Catalan
- Subject: Individual poets' poetry
- Collection: Quaderns de la Font del Cargol
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: March 2025
- Number of pages: 76
- Weight: 130 g
Editorial review
Bensenes, el temps is a work that stands out for its thematic and formal cohesion, offering poetry that transcends the individual to address universal issues such as time, memory, and belonging. The recognition of the Marià Manent Prize vouches for its literary quality, while its focus on Menorcan identity and ecological denunciation give it contemporary relevance. It is a recommended read for those seeking reflective, well-constructed poetry with a strong sense of place.