Foggy Bottom in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

César Vallejo

(Santiago de Chuco, Perú, 1892 - Paris, France 1938)

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 2, 2026

1. César Vallejo Marker

Inscription.
César Vallejo is one of Latin America's most significant avant-garde poets. His works challenge traditional forms and express a profound humanism, capturing the struggles of humanity.

His poems transcend time and remain essential to modern literature and poetry throughout the world. Some of his most famous works include The Black Heralds (1919), Trilce (1922), Spain, take this cup from me (1939) and Human Poems (1939), which showcase his unique style and deep commitment to the themes of suffering, love, and existentialism.

MASS
Poem XII from the poetry collection
"Spain, take this cup from me" At the end of the battle, The combatant dead,
a man approached him And said to him:
"Don't die; I love you so much!"
But the corpse, alas! Kept on dying.

Two more came up to him and repeated:
"Don't leave us! Be brave! Come back to life!"
But the corpse, alas! Kept on dying.

Twenty, a hundred, a thousand, five hundred
thousand, came up to him, crying out: "So much
love, and no power against death! But the corpse,
alas! Kept on dying.

Millions of individuals surrounded him,
With a common plea: "Don't leave us brother!
But the corpse, alas! Kept on dying.

Then, all the inhabitants of the earth
Surrounded him; the corpse looked at them sadly,
deeply moved,
He got up slowly,
Embraced the first man; started to walk…

Translated by Clayton Eshleman

Erected 2024

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by Permanent Mission of Peru to the OAS; Embassy of Peru in the USA.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music.

Location. 38° 53.54′ N, 77° 2.435′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Foggy Bottom. It is at the intersection of Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50) and Virginia Avenue Northwest, on the right on Constitution Avenue Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 18th St NW, Washington DC 20004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pablo Neruda (a few steps from this marker); Inuksuk (a few steps from this marker); Gabriela Mistral (within shouting distance

<i>Reading with the great poet César Vallejo</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 2, 2026

2. Reading with the great poet César Vallejo

of this marker); Cordell Hull (within shouting distance of this marker); Eloy Alfaro (within shouting distance of this marker); Disappearing Act (within shouting distance of this marker); Keeping Us Connected (within shouting distance of this marker); The Washington City Canal (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Dedication plaque at the sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0)

3. Dedication plaque at the sculpture

"Reading with the great poet César Vallejo"
Artist David M. Flores Calderón Donated by the Embassy of Peru in the United States of the America and the Permanent Mission of Peru to the Organization of American States, in honor of the legacy of César Vallejo, one of the greatest innovators of Peruvian, American, and universal poetry.

This work symbolizes the importance of literature and culture as bridges of integration between the peoples of the Americas.

Washington D.C., October 15th, 2024

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 2, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.