Lira popular
Lira popular (the People's Lyre), also known as string literature, is a style of poetry that emerged in Chile during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Poets would write and print their works on loose sheets, which were then circulated in urban areas. To promote and share these poems, they were often hung from strings between poles or trees in public spaces. The title "La Lira Popular" was used in 1899 by poet Juan Bautista Peralta on his sheets, and the name came to apply to the whole genre. Many of the authors of these poems were peasants or poets who sought to reflect the voices and perspectives of the people, offering commentary on current events and social issues. Themes Many of the poems in Lira popular revolve around themes such as poverty, love, violence, murder, life, death, crime, and religion. Poets deliberately selected these subjects to pique the curiosity of readers, while the accompanying illustrations vividly depicted the conditions and circumstances of everyday life. Printing Lira popular was printed in various formats throughout its history. The early editions of these popular pages (called "liras") in Chile measured 26 x 35 cm, but they gradually grew in size to