[37] posee el cetro de la poesía criolla, he wields the sceptre in creole [indigenous, national, gaucho, native], poetry.
[38] los tiempos que corren, the present time; nowadays.
[39] fué poeta a su manera, he was a poet after his own fashion.
[40] ese «gay decir» or gaya ciencia. The art of poetry.
[41] dichos populares, common sayings; proverbial sayings.
[42] Jorge Isaacs. A well-known Colombian poet and novelist.
[43] con tal de, provided that. VARIANT: Siempre que sea.
[44] la «María.» Note the article before a Christian name when the latter is used as a title.
[45] Eusebio Lillo. A Chilian poet.
[46] obra maestra, masterpiece.