Poets from Panama
Panama is currently undergoing a poetic and literature revival. The history of Panamanian poets came more to light when the Panama canal was being constructed. The passion of the people of Panama and the experiences of building the canal and the impacts it had on the people can be felt through words written by poets and authors of that time.
Due to the continual struggles of an ever evolving nation, many lives were lost and working conditions were unimaginable. Literature became a way for people to express their truth and instill changes. The history of literature dates back to manuscripts found as far back as the early 1600’s.
The country is located in Central America and it has approximately 34 million people. The first collection of poems was written in the 17th century. This is titled “Llanto de Panamá a la muerte de don Enrique Enríquez.” It’s translation is “Crying from Panama at the Death of Don Enrique Enríquez.” Romantic poetry prevailed in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. It focused on nationalism with a reflection of the struggle for Panama’s freedom and independence from Spain. Some of the early romantic poets were Manuel Maria Ayala, Thomas Miro Rubini, and Manuel Jose Perez.
During 1903, when Panama separated from Columbia, modernism in poetry began. A poet Leo Antonio Soto died through torture because he championed Panama’s freedom. There were two literary magazines that focused on the modernist poetry movement at that time.
Richard Miro, who lived from 1883 to 1940, was a popular poet that studied to be a painter. He returned to Panama during The Thousand Year War. His extensive traveling led him to write many nostalgic poems about Panama. Some of his well known poems were Native Land and To Portobello. He worked over a decade for a publication called the Isthmus Herald. His poetry documents the early independence of Panama before the US became involved with the country and its construction of the Panama Canal.
The first woman to become a decorated poet in Panama was Maria Olimpia de Obaldia. She graduated from college and worked as a school teacher until her marriage. Her work focused on women’s issues. She published her first book in 1926. Her poetry focused on maternity and love of the family. Some of her most famous poems were Natore May and Parnaso Infantil.
Another poet wrote under a pen name Rogelio Sinan. He was a professor who taught Spanish at the University of Panama. His true name was Bernardo Dominguez Alba. He wrote poems, short stories, and novels. He wrote a collection of poems called Onda in 1929. He won many awards for his work. Another talented individual and poet was this highly skilled architect, Ricardo J. Mundez. He trained in the US for architecture. He returned to Panama and became the dean of architecture at the University of Panama. His poems won awards for distinction. His award winning poems were Adan Liberato and Cuando la isla era doncella. Also let us not forget Ofelio Hooper Palo was a poet, professor and civil rights activist. She was known for avant garde poetry in Panama.
Again, these are just a few of the many talented individuals who come from this region and in this world of the digital age, many more will begin to become even more well known throughout Panama as well as throughout the world.
