I keep in my gaze
the childhood grief
of an eternal distance
that cannot stop
the scent, the taste
of when I was
the only inhabitant
in your arms
Mother.
|
Sostengo en la mirada
un luto infantil.
De una eterna lejanía
que no impide
el aroma, el sabor
cuando era
la única habitante
en tus brazos
Madre.
|
is an indigenous Mapuche poet from southern Chile. Writing in Spanish, she is the first
woman poet of her people to be published. In 1987 her first poem appeared in a newspaper
in Santiago, and in 1994 several of her poems appeared in an anthology in the United
States, Ül: Four Mapuche Poets.
Since then she has traveled throughout the world to share her poetry and culture.
She has been published in France, Poland, Sweden, Uzbekistan, Macedonia, Romania,
China, United States, and most countries in Central and South America. Huinao
has co-edited two anthologies of Mapuche poetry written by women from Chile, and
in 2009 published the first Mapuche novel.
is a teacher of English learners and students at-risk in reading. Helping students
discover the magic of language and literacy when they do not believe that they can
learn to read is a true honor for her. She has lived for many years in Latin America
and has three bilingual children. Translating poetry from Spanish to English, writing
children’s music, and performing Latin American music are ways in which she
shares her diverse life with others.
Towner received the Jan Buel Bradley Chapbook Award in 2005, and her poetry will appear
in two upcoming anthologies: Silver Birch Anthology and the Cancer
Poetry Project Anthology.