famous poetesses

Sappho of Mytilene (650/610 BC – 580 BC) was, in all probability, the most famous poetess of antiquity. From that time, other famous poetesses were not heard of until the eighteenth century. Such an "absence" responds, of course, to cultural factors that allowed an overwhelming imposition of men in literature and the arts in general. Of course, the same thing happened in almost all areas of Western civilization (politics, religion, science)...

Of course, what is written above does not mean that there were no memorable poetic creations made by women in that period, simply "there is no record". However, it is not ruled out that discoveries in this regard may arise at any time. However, in the following paragraphs we will refer briefly -in chronological order- to the life and work of some of the best-known female poets to date. It is a compendium that, although it falls short, shows a wide range of talented poetesses who marked and set the standard on the world poetic level.

the pioneers

Sappho of Mytilene

Also known as Sappho of Lesbos, At least 650 lyrical compositions to be accompanied by music are attributed to the Greek poetess. However, historians consider that she was an extremely prolific creator, since (possibly) she produced more than 10.000 poems. Among them, the best known is Hymn to Aphrodite.

In her writings, Sappho adopts the perspective of a specific person, unlike her predecessor epic poets whose inspiration stems from a “divine source”. Also, Due to her most frequent themes, she is considered the model of the sexually autonomous woman. In fact, the word lesbian comes from the island of Lesbos, where she lived for most of her life.

Phillis Wheatley

On July 11, 1761, a seven-year-old girl was brought aboard the Phillis to be sold into slavery in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Then John Wheatley, a wealthy merchant, bought it for her wife. Later, the young captive began writing poetry at the age of thirteen; his writings appeared in various local and British newspapers.

In 1773 she became the first African-American woman to be published with a compilation of renewed poetry.. That work was praised by celebrities of his time such as George Washington or Benjamin Franklin. Although Wheatley obtained his freedom, he died in poverty on December 5, 1784; he was just 31 years old. Here are some of his most famous poems:

• On Being Brought From Africa to America (1773);
• On Virtue (1773);
• To His Excellency General Washington (1775)

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett (Durham, England, March 6, 1806 – Rome, Italy, June 29, 1861) He started writing poetry when he was 6 years old. This precocity was confirmed by completing The Battle of Marathon: A Poem (1820) with 12 years. Similarly, the British became the youngest writer to complete an extensive literary review thanks to An Essay on Mind, with Other Poems (1826)

Following her marriage to the writer Robert Browning in 1844, she had a dispute with her father and was forced to move to Florence, Italy. By this time, the Dunelmian author was already a well-known Victorian poet, with a work that influenced other immortal writers such as Edgar Allan Poe or Emily Dickinson. Among his best-known works are:

• The Cry of the Children (1842)
• How do I love you? (1950)
• Aurora leigh (1856)

Emily Dickinson

He was born on December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Most academics point to her as the most important woman in the history of poetry english speaking. Although she was recognized in her lifetime for her immense talent, she led a rather introverted existence and most of her friendships were by correspondence.

His prolific work —with more than 1800 poems— is known today as "the poetry of paradox" due to its unique use of form and syntax. In any case, the legacy of the American poet whose alias was Belle of Amherst has had an undeniable influence on Anglo-Saxon literature. Dickinson died in his hometown at the age of 55, on May 15, 1886.

Some of his best known poems:

• Because I Could Not Stop For Death (1890);
• Hope is the Thing with Feathers (1891);
• I'm nobody! Quien eres? (1891)

Christina Rossetti

English critics of the 1850s came to describe Christina Rossetti (December 5, 1830 – December 29, 1894) as the most important poetess of her time. Among his best-known anthologies are A Birthday (1861) Remember (1862) and Goblin Market (1862)

Rosalia de Castro

Maria Rosalia Rita de Castro (February 23, 1837 – July 15, 1885) It is considered one of the fundamental feathers of the Rexurdiment gallego. Likewise, together with Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, the Spanish poet and novelist went down in history as a forerunner of modern poetry in Spain. All the arguments mentioned here are very palpable in the following works:

• Galician songs (1863);
• You fuck novas (1880);
• On the banks of the Sar (1884)

Sarojini Naidu

He was born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad, India. Initially his father wanted him to study natural sciences or mathematics, but, from an early age she stood out for her poetry related to children, nature, love and death. Already in mature age, Naidu's compositions focused on patriotism.

Her political activism led her to become the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress. On a literary level, he marked his time with his reflections on imperishable beauty. He died on March 2, 1949. Among his most notable creations, stand out The Coromandel Fishermen, In the bazaars of Hyderabad y palanquin bearers.

Gabriela Mistral

Baptized as Lucila Godoy Alcayaga (April 7, 1889 – January 10, 1957), the Chilean poet, diplomat and professor was the first Ibero-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Also —among his numerous decorations—, he was an honorary doctorate from Mills College in Oakland, the University of Guatemala and the University of Chile.

His most recognized works:

• Bleakness (1922);
• Tala (1938);
• Tenderness (1942)

Alfonsina Storni

Although he was born in Switzerland on May 29, 1892, Stormy's Legacy It is part of Argentine modernist literature. In her compositions she approached the feminist theme with an abstract, reflective nuance and lacking in eroticism.. Likewise, her lyrics reveal the physical ailments and psychological conditions that affected her for a long time and led her to suicide on October 25, 1938.

Some of his most renowned creations:

• Languor (1920);
• Love poems (1926);
• World of seven wells (1934)

Joan of Ibarbourou

The Uruguayan poet is considered one of the most representative pens of Latin American poetry in the first half of the XNUMXth century. Not in vain, Ibarbourou (March 8, 1892 – July 15, 1979) received the distinction of "Juana de América" ​​in 1929. His compositions praise love, motherhood, physical beauty and nature. Among his most recognized publications are:

• wild root (1922);
• The rose of the winds (1930);
• Gone girl (1950)

Famous female poets born in the XNUMXth century and their best-known works

Anaïs Nin

Anais Nin; (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, February 21, 1903 – Los Angeles, January 14, 1977). His writings show a great influence of the surrealist movement and the study of psychoanalysis., along with a unique expression of feminine feeling that came to be described as narcissistic. Her best-known lyrical work was Delta of Venus: Erotica (1977)

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was a very prolific poet associated with the civil rights struggle in the United States. Equally, In her poetic work she explored themes related to femininity, love, loss, music, discrimination and racism. Below are his best-known poetic compilations:

• Still I Rise (1978);
• Phenomenal Woman (1978);
• On the Pulse of Morning (1993)

Sylvia Plath

The writer born in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 27, 1932 She was a pioneer in the so-called “confessional poetry”. This type of lyrical expression is characterized by the focus on the individual aspect, that is, tastes, experiences, psyche and traumas. This last aspect led her to suffer from depressive disorders throughout her life and, eventually, to suicide (February 11, 1963).

Among his most recognized works are:

• Daddy (1965);
• Tulips (1965);
• Mirror (1971)

Rupee kaur

The poet born in Punjab, India, on October 4, 1992 —nationalized Canadian— She is probably the contemporary composer with the most notoriety on social networks today. His first poetic collection, milk and honey (2017) sold more than two million copies and remained on the best-seller list of the New York Times for 72 weeks.

Among his best-known poems are:

• For anyone who feels rejected (2014);
• For the passionate ones (2014);
• be water (2014)

Other famous women poets born in the XNUMXth century and their best-known works

• Margaret Yourcenar; Belgium (June 8, 1903 – December 17, 1987)
  • The coup de grace (1939);
  • Memories of Hadrian (1951);
  • L'oeuvre au noir (1968)
• Josephine of the Tower; Spain (September 25, 1907 – July 12, 2002)
  • Verses and prints (1927);
  • island poems (1930);
  • incomplete March (1933)
• Glory Strong; Spain (July 28, 1917 – November 27, 1998)
  • kangaroo for everything (1968);
  • Three tigers with wheat (1979);
  • fried verses (1994)
• Elise Cowen; United States (July 31, 1933 – February 27, 1962). Much of his writing was burned by his parents due to his constant allusions to homosexuality and drug use. Most of his work was edited by Toni Trigilio in Elise Cowen: Poems and Fragments (2012)
• Mary Oliver; United States (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019)
  • American Primitive (1983);
  • House of light (1990);
  • White Pine: Poems and Prose Poems (1994)
• Alejandra Pizarnik; Argentina (April 29, 1936 – September 25, 1972)
  

  Phrase by Alejandra Pizarnik

  • Diana tree (1962);
  • the works and the nights (1965);
  • The bloody countess (1971)
• Gioconda Belli; Nicaragua (December 9, 1948 –)
  • Fire line (1972);
  • Thunder and rainbows (1982);
  • furiously fur woman (2020)
• Magaly Salazar Sanabria; Venezuela (August 31, 1940 –)

• • burning (1992);
  • The House of the Watcher (1993);
  • resistance bodies (2006)