Fina García Marruz

Fina García Marruz was born in Havana, Cuba in 1923. A poet and literary researcher, she graduated from the University of Havana in Social Sciences. Marruz's interest in literature began in adolescence, along with her love for music. She was a member of the magazine group Orígenes (1944-1956), a spiritual community of aesthetic ideas with a strong Christian presence headed by José Lezama Lima, in which her husband, the writer Cintio Vitier, also participated. 

Marruz was part of the team that carried out the critical edition of the poetic work José Martí at the Center for Martían Studies, where she worked as a literary researcher. Her extensive poetic creations over nearly sixty years include a dozen titles including: Poems (1942), Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mount (1947), The Lost Gazes 1944-1950 (1951), Visitations (1970), Voyage to Nicaragua (1987), Charlot Credits (1990), The Rembrandt de l'Hermitage (1992), Viejas Melodías (1993), Habana del Centro (1997), and The rare moment (2010). 

Fina García Marruz has received numerous awards, including the National Prize for Cuban Literature (1990), the Pablo Neruda Ibero-American Poetry Award (2007), The City of Granada-Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize (2011), and the Reina Sofía Prize for Ibero-American Poetry (2011).

Much Simpler

I say it's simple, Much
simpler. I insist
because there are people who talk
about learnable techniques,
She's just a girl. Blind
like any girl. Alone (after all)
and helpless, like any girl.
Black stockings, poor jersey. Her hair
a bit curly, sweetly springy in the sun.
A girl who still doesn't know she's beautiful
and so is more beautiful still.
A girl who hasn't recovered from the amazement
of being one, who smiles for no reason.

And then a poet came and saw her.

    — Translation by Rowena Hill

Mucho Más Simple

Digo que es simple, Mucho
mas simple. Insisto
por esos que andan hablando
de aprendibles técnicas,
Es sólo una muchacha. Ciega
como toda muchacha. Sola, (en el fondo)
y desvalida, como toda muchacha.
Medias negras, suetercito pobre. El pelillo
algo rizado, leve, graciosamente, al sol.
Una muchacha que aún ignora que es bella,
y por que es más bella todavía.
Una muchacha aún no repuesta del asombro
de serlo, que sonríe sin motivo.

Y entonces, vino un poeta, y la vio.

    — Fina García Marruz