Prominent Cuban poetess Carilda Oliver Labra Dies

August 29, 2018

In the early morning hours of this Wednesday, August 29th, the distinguished Cuban poetess Carilda Oliver Labra passed away at the age of 96 at her home in Matanzas.

The National Literature Prize recipient was one of the most outstanding poetesses of Cuba and Hispanic America, and Cubans and particularly those from Matanzas are grateful for that extensive life dedicated entirely to poetry.

In March of this year she received the Excelencias Prize for her prolific work in the seventh edition of this award ceremony in Cuba, which recognizes personalities, organizations and institutions that contribute to the development of the Island in various sectors.

The author of Canto a Fidel has some 40 published books translated into English, French, German and Bulgarian, among them Al Sur de mi garganta republished on six occasions, Desaparece el polvo, four times; Soneto, three times and Se me ha perdido un hombre, on two occasions.

Here we leave you one of the most popular poems by the poetess.

I Lose Myself, Love, I Lose Myself

I lose myself, love, I lose myself
when I go into your mouth, lingering;
and almost without wanting to, almost for nothing,
I touch you with the tip of my breast.

I touch you with the tip of my breast
and with my forsaken solitude;
and perhaps without being in love
I lose myself, love, I lose myself.

And my fortune of a respected fruit
burns in your lascivious and troubled hand
like a bad promise of poison;

and although I want to kiss you on my knees,
when I go into your mouth, lingering,
I lose myself, love, I lose myself.