Absolute Sea, by Cecília Meireles (Rio de Janeiro, 1901–1964) – Translated by Chris Daniels

The world-famous Brazilian poet Cecília Benevides de Carvalho Meireles was born in Rio de Janeiro on November 7, 1901, and died in the same city on November 9, 1964. Her first book of poems,Espectro, was published in 1919, and was followed by some 60 books, pamphets and collections of poetry and prose (some of which were published posthumously). In 1934, she organized the first children’s library in Rio. She translated Lorca, Tagore, Rilke and Virginia Woolf, among others. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Delhi. She was a constant traveler who taught and lectured all over the world. Her poetry is taught in schools. –CD