Jose Hierro, 80; Award-Winning Spanish Poet

Jose Hierro, 80, a poet who won the Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s highest literary award, died Saturday of respiratory failure while writing in a Madrid coffee shop.

Known for his gravelly voice, shaved head and terse language, Hierro won the prize in 1998, when he published his “New York Notebook.” He also won Spain’s National Poetry Award in 1999, the same year he was elected to the Royal Spanish Academy, the official watchdog of the Spanish language.

Hierro’s first poem, “A Bullet Killed Him,” was published in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. When fighting stopped in 1939 and fascist forces loyal to Gen. Francisco Franco had overthrown the government, Hierro was jailed for five years. His crime was providing aid to Franco’s prisoners during the war.

The poet published his first book, “Earth Without Us,” in the 1940s. He won his first prize, called the Adonais, for his poem “Happiness” in 1947. He also earned the Prince of Asturias prize in 1981, the National Award of Spanish Letters in 1990 and the Queen Sofia Spanish poetry award in 1995.