The Colombian writer Piedad Bonnett (Amalfi, 73 years old) has been awarded the XXXIII Reina Sofía Prize for Ibero-American Poetry, awarded by the University of Salamanca and National Heritage jointly, as announced by the organizers of the award. The objective of the Reina Sofía is to recognize the body of work of a living author who, due to its literary value, constitutes a relevant contribution to the common cultural heritage of Spain and Latin America.
Bonnett takes over from Gioconda Belli. Graduated in Philosophy and Letters from the Universidad de los Andes, the Colombian writer has published eight books of poems and several anthologies, as well as plays, several novels and a testimonial book about the death of her son, What has no name. Con The thread of days won the National Poetry Prize in Colombia in 1994; the Casa de América award in 2011 with Unsolicited Explanations, in addition to other awards such as the Víctor Sandoval, the José Lezama Lima or the Generation of 27 award, thanks to his book The forgotten.
The manager of National Heritage, María Dolores Menéndez, has announced the jury’s ruling and highlighted that Bonnett is “a current voice of reference in Ibero-American poetry with an elaborate treatment of language that allows him to approach life experience with depth and beauty and to respond with humanity to the tragedy of life. His poetry is luminous, even when it deals with difficult themes, such as heartbreak, war, loss or mourning. For the jury, “her poetry shows a solid and organic trajectory, with great coherence in her poetic work.”
In an interview with EL PAÍS, the poet explained that “knowing about the miracle of others” led her to write poetry. And she explained: “In class she used a verse by Miguel Hernández: ‘Because grief smudges when it explodes.’ The breakdown of logic shakes us. Many times a poem is a question. I have had a tendency to tell the truth without stopping to think that it might suddenly upset someone. I have had to moderate myself. “I saw a truth and I needed to say it.” And about the sincerity of her work, she pointed out: “If I bring something from my upbringing, it is that ethical value, I have never imposed. Using literature to lie? So that? “He who deceives is the first to be deceived.”