Carilda Oliver Labra facts for kids
Carilda Oliver Labra (born July 6, 1922 – died August 29, 2018) was a very important Cuban poet. She was born in and lived most of her life in Matanzas, a city in Cuba. Carilda Oliver Labra is known for her powerful poems that explored many feelings and ideas.
Early Life and Talents
Carilda Oliver Labra was born in Matanzas, Cuba. When she was older, she went to the University of Havana to study law. But her talents weren't just in writing and law! She was also very good at drawing, painting, and sculpting. This shows she had many creative skills.
Her Poetry and Themes
Carilda Oliver Labra became one of the most influential poets in Cuba. Her poems often talked about important topics. She wrote a lot about love and its many forms. She also explored the role of women in society, thinking about their experiences and challenges. Sometimes, her poems were about herself and her own feelings.
Famous Works
One of her most famous poems is called Me desordeno, amor, me desordeno. This poem is very well-known and loved by many. Another important work is Discurso de Eva (which means "Eve's Discourse"). These poems show how skilled she was with words and how deeply she thought about life. Her first collection of poems, Lyric Prelude (Preludio lirico), came out in 1943. This book quickly showed everyone that she was a talented new voice in poetry.
Awards and Recognition
Carilda Oliver Labra received many awards for her amazing poetry, both in Cuba and around the world.
- In 1950, she won the National Poetry Prize for her book At the South of My Throat (Al sur de mi garganta). This book made her very famous.
- Also in 1950, she won the national Cuban First Prize for her poems in a contest honoring Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
- Later, in 1997, she received the National Literature Award, which is one of the highest honors for writers in Cuba.
- In 2002, she was given the José de Vasconcelos International Prize, showing her work was recognized globally.
Even famous poets admired her work. Gabriela Mistral, a Chilean poet who won the Nobel Prize, praised Carilda's writing. Carilda Oliver Labra's poems often explored themes of lost love, showing deep emotion and understanding.
