Poet’s corner: Jaime Valdivieso

The radical poet and activist talks about an identity crisis in his native Chile, condemns racism against the Mapuche, and calls for Latin American unity JAIME VALDIVIESO is one of Chile’s most important poets and has published more than 25 books in his homeland and abroad, ranging from essays, short stories, novels and poetry. Among the collections he has contributed to are Che in Verse (2007, Aflame). He has taught and lectured about literature in a number of countries including Cuba and the United States. He was exiled after the 1973 coup and lived in Mexico, where he wrote a number of important works. He has been an active champion of Mapuche poetry and been involved in a number of initiatives to gain greater recognition for the country’s indigenous people and their literature. Is poetry a thriving art form in Latin America, or is it ailing? Is it a medium for young people or are they being seduced by the temptations of modern mass culture? I believe the principal value of poetry continues to be testimonial, that which serves as a type of spirit-o-meter to detect the state of the soul of our peoples. These days youth poetry is distinguished […]