Derrick Del Pilar

Born and raised in Chicago, I came to the tango while studying at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires in 2006. In 2008 I earned my B.A. with majors in Creative Writing and Spanish & Portuguese from the University of Arizona, and in 2009 I earned an M.A. in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. My specialty is the history & literature of early 20th century Argentina.

Derrick Del Pilar has written 151 posts for Poesía de gotán: The Poetry of the Tango

Tristeza marina (1943)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 10.27.2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

Sadness of the Sea lyrics by Horacio Sanguinetti “You love the sea more,” she said to me with sorrow as her crystalline voice broke. I remember the look of the twilight in her eyes and these words became my obsession: “You have to choose between your sea and my love.” I told her, “No,” and … Continue reading →

Jamás retornarás (1942)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 10.27.2011 ⋅ 3 Comments

You Will Never Return lyrics by Miguel Caló and Osmar Maderna When she said goodbye, I wanted to cry then without her love, I wanted to scream. All the dreams that my heart encompassed, all my illusions, they fell to pieces. “I will come back soon,” she said as she left. I went crazy waiting … Continue reading →

Elogio de la sombra

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 08.24.2011 ⋅ Leave a comment

This is not a tango…but it is an homage to one of my favorite writers of all time, an Argentine, on what would be his 112th birthday. This poem was originally translated into English as In Praise of Darkness by Norman Thomas di Giovanni. This translation, as always, is mine. Ode to the Shadows by … Continue reading →

Veinticuatro de agosto (1943)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 08.24.2011 ⋅ 7 Comments

August 24th lyrics by Homero Manzi music by Pedro Laurenz August 24th— it’s been one whole year. Not one night missed at my preferred café, and after, out with all my favorite guys to dance, to drink, to while the time away… I haven’t touched my tools for one whole year, I call my mother … Continue reading →

Invierno (1937)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 08.02.2011 ⋅ 19 Comments

Winter lyrics by Enrique Cadícamo It has returned: winter, with its white veil— the frost has already begun to sparkle in my loveless life. Profound agony that makes me understand that it is terrible to find yourself alone. And when I see how the cold winds of desolation gust through my heart I want to … Continue reading →

Poesía de gotán: The Poetry of the Tango

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