What luck, Alzamora...

Dear friend Sebastia Alzamora,

Allow me to congratulate you on the awarding of the National Poetry Prize, for the magnificent Sala Augusta followed by Llengua materna, but allow me to congratulate you above all on the opposition from the picturesque political party Vox. It seems that their deputy spokesperson at the Council of Mallorca, David Gil, apparently “does not question its quality” (the pronoun is mine), but rather reproaches you for your “opinions” about “Spain, its institutions, and certain elements of our common history”. “The freedom of expression of the writer,” says Vox in the document it has presented, “does not force public representatives to remain indifferent to the decision to grant him one of Spain’s main cultural distinctions”. Gil has also insinuated, listen, that Francina Armengol might have exerted “possible influence on the verdict”. I do not think so, as the prize is decided by a jury, but I, if I had had the opportunity, surely would have done so. And hoping, of course, that with a small part of the 30,000 euros you would treat me to a good dinner.

The truly important award is that Vox questions your award, because of your opinions. And speaking of opinions, I need David Gil's vision on other literary and even culinary prizes. I am very sorry, very, that he has been left alone in the fight against this award, because it would have been very good for your sales if he had managed to get it withdrawn. I, if I were your publisher, would put a sash on the book with David Gil’s phrase. How envious we all are of you...