Dulce Maria Loynaz
Biography of Dulce Maria
Dulce Maria Loynaz was a famous Cuban poet. She was born in Havana, Cuba on December 10th, 1902 and died in the same city on April 27th, 1997. Dulce Maria was conceived by her mother, Maria de las Mercedes Munoz Sanudo, and her father Enrique Loynaz del Castillo. Her father was a General and was the hero of the Liberation War of Spain in the turn of the 20th century. Her mother was a beautiful woman who came from one of the most wealthy families back in the 19th century.
Dulce Maria lived a very sheltered childhood along with her two brothers, Enrique Loynaz Munoz and Carlos Manuel, and her sister, Flor (which is spanish for flower). Although, when she became an adult, she was able to live a more free and adventurous life.
Dulce Maria Loynaz first married to her cousin when she was 36 years old. Their marriage lasted from 1938-1943, about 5 years. But she was unhappy, so they got a divorce. A few years later, she discovered she made the right decision. She married the Spanish Society Journalist, Pablo Alvarez de Dana, the love of her life! He believed in her work and supported her 100%. He influenced her work actively in Spain.
In 1997, she died half blind and almost deaf at the age of 94. She asked to be buried in white with the Cuban flag and flowers. They played the anthem Invasor at her funeral which was written by her father, General Enrique Loynaz del Castillo.
Dulce Maria lived a very sheltered childhood along with her two brothers, Enrique Loynaz Munoz and Carlos Manuel, and her sister, Flor (which is spanish for flower). Although, when she became an adult, she was able to live a more free and adventurous life.
Dulce Maria Loynaz first married to her cousin when she was 36 years old. Their marriage lasted from 1938-1943, about 5 years. But she was unhappy, so they got a divorce. A few years later, she discovered she made the right decision. She married the Spanish Society Journalist, Pablo Alvarez de Dana, the love of her life! He believed in her work and supported her 100%. He influenced her work actively in Spain.
In 1997, she died half blind and almost deaf at the age of 94. She asked to be buried in white with the Cuban flag and flowers. They played the anthem Invasor at her funeral which was written by her father, General Enrique Loynaz del Castillo.
Education
She recieved her doctorate in Civil Rights at the Havana University in 1927.
Dulce Maria also worked for a very imporant, cultured, Cuban magazine called "The Origins" in the early 1920s.
Then in 1929, she left to visit several countries such as: Turkey, Syria, Libya, Palestine, and Egypt. She also visited Mexico (in 1937), the Americas, Europe, and the Canary Islands (1947-51) where she was declared "adoptive daughter".
Dulce Maria also worked for a very imporant, cultured, Cuban magazine called "The Origins" in the early 1920s.
Then in 1929, she left to visit several countries such as: Turkey, Syria, Libya, Palestine, and Egypt. She also visited Mexico (in 1937), the Americas, Europe, and the Canary Islands (1947-51) where she was declared "adoptive daughter".
Achievements
Dulce Maria Loynaz's Writings:
Dulce Maria began creating several poems in her teens and early 20s.
Among some of Dulce Maria's closest and oldest friends were, Pedro Simon, the writer and his wife (a world renowned ballerina), Alicia Alonso. Pedro Simon later became the editor of her archives and some of her selected poems. Although, Maria published several poems and a couple books of her own. For example, she published one of her books called Versos (1920-1938), during this period, Dulce Maria Loynaz was known as a poet in Cuban Literary Circles. Another book she wrote was called Jardin, which she wrote in the late 1920s, early 1930s, but it wasn't published until 1951. Jardin was a precursor of "magic realism". Some names of her other books of poems and writings were: Poemas Sin Nombre in 1953, Juegos de Agua (A.K.A. Water Games) in 1947, and Poesia Completa in 1993 (5 years before she died.)
Awards:
In 1987, she won the Cuban National Prize for Literature. In 1992, she won the Cervantes Prize, which was a prize that recognizes and honors the lifetime achievement of an outstanding writer.
Her Writing Style:
Dulce Maria's poetry is very different from modern Cuban poetry in ways related to gender. The subject of her work is usually either intimate or cosmic, but almost never includes issues of power and survival.
Her work is similar as to Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf because of its themes and cultural importance.
Dulce Maria began creating several poems in her teens and early 20s.
Among some of Dulce Maria's closest and oldest friends were, Pedro Simon, the writer and his wife (a world renowned ballerina), Alicia Alonso. Pedro Simon later became the editor of her archives and some of her selected poems. Although, Maria published several poems and a couple books of her own. For example, she published one of her books called Versos (1920-1938), during this period, Dulce Maria Loynaz was known as a poet in Cuban Literary Circles. Another book she wrote was called Jardin, which she wrote in the late 1920s, early 1930s, but it wasn't published until 1951. Jardin was a precursor of "magic realism". Some names of her other books of poems and writings were: Poemas Sin Nombre in 1953, Juegos de Agua (A.K.A. Water Games) in 1947, and Poesia Completa in 1993 (5 years before she died.)
Awards:
In 1987, she won the Cuban National Prize for Literature. In 1992, she won the Cervantes Prize, which was a prize that recognizes and honors the lifetime achievement of an outstanding writer.
Her Writing Style:
Dulce Maria's poetry is very different from modern Cuban poetry in ways related to gender. The subject of her work is usually either intimate or cosmic, but almost never includes issues of power and survival.
Her work is similar as to Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf because of its themes and cultural importance.
Dulce Maria Loynaz Museum
One of the rooms in the museum.
After Dulce Maria Loynaz died, her home was turned into a museum recognizing the most talented Cuban writer from the 20th century. The museum had three main purposes. It was used for the Cuban Academy of Language, a centre for promoting literature, and as a rememberance memorial for the life of Dulce Maria Loynaz.
Quotes:
"No one hears my voice, if I pray or cry:
I'm clinging to the stem island of the winds...
can I fly or sink... I sometimes
bite my tail as a sign of infinity."
Dulce Maria who was a childless herslef said to a barren woman: "May God rot the tongue of whoever directs it against you. . . . Those who want you to serve for what other women serve don't know that you are Eve . . . Eve, uncursed, Eve, white and asleep in a garden of flowers, in a scented forest! . . ."
In 1959, her husband left the country, and 10 years later he returned terminally ill then died a couple years later. When she recieved the Cervantes prize, she reflected, "In my life I have shed so many tears for this man that I had none left to pour into his tomb..".
Dulce Maria Loynaz lived in the neighborhood, El Vedado in Havana all her life. Despite traveling and being known across the nation, she wanted to stay on the island in which she lived. She said, "...is more of the land that claims the writer and not the writer who claims the earth."
I'm clinging to the stem island of the winds...
can I fly or sink... I sometimes
bite my tail as a sign of infinity."
Dulce Maria who was a childless herslef said to a barren woman: "May God rot the tongue of whoever directs it against you. . . . Those who want you to serve for what other women serve don't know that you are Eve . . . Eve, uncursed, Eve, white and asleep in a garden of flowers, in a scented forest! . . ."
In 1959, her husband left the country, and 10 years later he returned terminally ill then died a couple years later. When she recieved the Cervantes prize, she reflected, "In my life I have shed so many tears for this man that I had none left to pour into his tomb..".
Dulce Maria Loynaz lived in the neighborhood, El Vedado in Havana all her life. Despite traveling and being known across the nation, she wanted to stay on the island in which she lived. She said, "...is more of the land that claims the writer and not the writer who claims the earth."
Questions we have for Dulce Maria Loynaz
1. What gave you inspiration for some of your poems such as "Disclosure" which is a fairly twisted poem?
2. Are all your poems reflections of events that occured in your life?
3. What was the reason for going to several countries across the world, and what did you do there?
4. Did you ever want children?
5. What was your childhood like, being sheltered in all?
2. Are all your poems reflections of events that occured in your life?
3. What was the reason for going to several countries across the world, and what did you do there?
4. Did you ever want children?
5. What was your childhood like, being sheltered in all?