Puerto Rico Honors Ángela María Dávila Malavé
Puerto Rico’s storied relationship with poetry is poised to take center stage once again with the fourteenth edition of the Festival Internacional de Poesía en Puerto Rico (FIP-PR), running from March 15–21, 2025. This year’s theme is particularly resonant: it pays homage to the late poet Ángela María Dávila Malavé, whose voice—steeped in lyricism and social commitment—continues to shape Puerto Rican letters. More than a simple listing of daily readings, this weeklong gathering is a venue to unite people, languages, and traditions on an island that is itself a crossroad of Latin American cultural currents.
Honoring a Literary Luminary
Ángela María Dávila Malavé was a core member of the 1960s-era Grupo Guajana, a seminal collective that helped redefine Puerto Rican and Latin American poetry. Dávila’s keen sense of social justice and her ability to paint the island’s stories in vivid, sonorous verse still ripple through contemporary writers. Influenced by Julia de Burgos, Clara Lair, Sylvia Rexach, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, she made her formal debut when Jorge Luis Morales introduced her at the Ateneo Puertorriqueño in 1963. Over the years, her work appeared in Antología de jóvenes poetas (1965) and later in significant collections such as the 1994 Antología de la poesía hispanoamericana actual and Flor de lumbre: Guajana 40 aniversario 1962-2002. Her collaborations with poet José María Lima, particularly their 1966 poemario Homenaje al ombligo, showcased an early exploration of intimacy and sensuality that would become emblematic of her later writing. Dávila’s 1977 collection, Animal fiero y tierno, marked her first solo book; she followed it with la querencia (published posthumously in 2006), in which she explores themes of love, the body, and the spiritual dimensions of human connection. This focus on physicality—in particular, the small, sensorial details of touch and desire—distinguishes her poetry, positioning her among Puerto Rico’s most vital literary voices of the twentieth century. By dedicating the festival to her memory, the FIP-PR underscores how past generations continue to galvanize new voices. It also highlights the festival’s mission: to celebrate the legacy of those who have paved the way, even as it provides a platform for emerging poets to forge fresh creative paths.
An Island-wide Celebration
With events scheduled across Puerto Rico, the festival endeavors to make poetry accessible to all. On Saturday, March 15, the curtain rises on the Gran Noche de Apertura at the Teatro Francisco Arriví in Santurce. Organizers have announced that more than 60 Puerto Rican poets will be joined by literary figures from 13 countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, México, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba, Palestina, Líbano, Ecuador, Francia, Chile, and República Dominicana. This multinational participation not only elevates the festival’s global profile but also paints an intimate portrait of how diverse communities relate to the written and spoken word.
For those venturing outside the metro area, Sunday, March 17 at the Casa Histórica de la Música in Cayey promises a feast of sights and sounds. Poetry readings, a book fair, and live music will fill the afternoon, crafting an immersive, family-friendly environment. Later in the week, the spotlight returns to Santurce at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC) on Thursday, March 20. This grand tribute to Dávila Malavé, featuring the Orfeón San Juan Bautista, epitomizes how music and poetry can converge, amplifying each other’s emotive range. Finally, on Friday, March 21 (International Poetry Day), the festival aligns with La Alianza Francesa de Puerto Rico to celebrate Francophonie Month—an event that ties poetic expression to the broader tapestry of global linguistic traditions.
Inclusive Voices, Collective Strength
One of the festival’s most significant hallmarks is its commitment to accessibility. All events are free and open to the public, reflecting a dedicated push to bring poetry into people’s daily lives rather than confining it to formal lecture halls or private gatherings. This inclusive ethos resonates strongly in Puerto Rico, a place where community and culture are inextricably linked. Poetry readings here are not purely intellectual exercises; they are vibrant social exchanges that reaffirm identity and solidarity.
The festival also shines a light on emerging talent through the VII Premio Internacional de Poesía Vicente Rodríguez-Nietzsche, set to be announced during the opening night. Having received nearly 400 submissions from across the globe, the prize underscores the festival’s reach. By bringing unknown or up-and-coming voices into the spotlight, FIP-PR positions itself as a bridge between established authors and the next generation of literary innovators.
As Puerto Rico prepares for this week of literary festivities, the spirit of Ángela María Dávila Malavé weaves throughout each activity. It is her legacy—layered, complex, and unafraid to confront social issues—that underscores how poetry can be simultaneously accessible and profound. Ultimately, FIP-PR champions an inclusive vision of literature, embracing both time-honored and avant-garde voices from the island and beyond.
For readers seeking deeper engagement, following the festival’s social media at @festivalpoesiapr (on Instagram and Facebook) offers real-time updates and glimpses of the events. Even if you can’t walk the streets of San Juan or Cayey in person, you can still experience the echoes of live verses and witness firsthand how Puerto Rico’s Festival Internacional de Poesía continues to expand poetry’s horizons.
Honoring a Literary Luminary
Ángela María Dávila Malavé was a core member of the 1960s-era Grupo Guajana, a seminal collective that helped redefine Puerto Rican and Latin American poetry. Dávila’s keen sense of social justice and her ability to paint the island’s stories in vivid, sonorous verse still ripple through contemporary writers. Influenced by Julia de Burgos, Clara Lair, Sylvia Rexach, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, she made her formal debut when Jorge Luis Morales introduced her at the Ateneo Puertorriqueño in 1963. Over the years, her work appeared in Antología de jóvenes poetas (1965) and later in significant collections such as the 1994 Antología de la poesía hispanoamericana actual and Flor de lumbre: Guajana 40 aniversario 1962-2002. Her collaborations with poet José María Lima, particularly their 1966 poemario Homenaje al ombligo, showcased an early exploration of intimacy and sensuality that would become emblematic of her later writing. Dávila’s 1977 collection, Animal fiero y tierno, marked her first solo book; she followed it with la querencia (published posthumously in 2006), in which she explores themes of love, the body, and the spiritual dimensions of human connection. This focus on physicality—in particular, the small, sensorial details of touch and desire—distinguishes her poetry, positioning her among Puerto Rico’s most vital literary voices of the twentieth century. By dedicating the festival to her memory, the FIP-PR underscores how past generations continue to galvanize new voices. It also highlights the festival’s mission: to celebrate the legacy of those who have paved the way, even as it provides a platform for emerging poets to forge fresh creative paths.
An Island-wide Celebration
With events scheduled across Puerto Rico, the festival endeavors to make poetry accessible to all. On Saturday, March 15, the curtain rises on the Gran Noche de Apertura at the Teatro Francisco Arriví in Santurce. Organizers have announced that more than 60 Puerto Rican poets will be joined by literary figures from 13 countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, México, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba, Palestina, Líbano, Ecuador, Francia, Chile, and República Dominicana. This multinational participation not only elevates the festival’s global profile but also paints an intimate portrait of how diverse communities relate to the written and spoken word.
For those venturing outside the metro area, Sunday, March 17 at the Casa Histórica de la Música in Cayey promises a feast of sights and sounds. Poetry readings, a book fair, and live music will fill the afternoon, crafting an immersive, family-friendly environment. Later in the week, the spotlight returns to Santurce at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC) on Thursday, March 20. This grand tribute to Dávila Malavé, featuring the Orfeón San Juan Bautista, epitomizes how music and poetry can converge, amplifying each other’s emotive range. Finally, on Friday, March 21 (International Poetry Day), the festival aligns with La Alianza Francesa de Puerto Rico to celebrate Francophonie Month—an event that ties poetic expression to the broader tapestry of global linguistic traditions.
Inclusive Voices, Collective Strength
One of the festival’s most significant hallmarks is its commitment to accessibility. All events are free and open to the public, reflecting a dedicated push to bring poetry into people’s daily lives rather than confining it to formal lecture halls or private gatherings. This inclusive ethos resonates strongly in Puerto Rico, a place where community and culture are inextricably linked. Poetry readings here are not purely intellectual exercises; they are vibrant social exchanges that reaffirm identity and solidarity.
The festival also shines a light on emerging talent through the VII Premio Internacional de Poesía Vicente Rodríguez-Nietzsche, set to be announced during the opening night. Having received nearly 400 submissions from across the globe, the prize underscores the festival’s reach. By bringing unknown or up-and-coming voices into the spotlight, FIP-PR positions itself as a bridge between established authors and the next generation of literary innovators.
As Puerto Rico prepares for this week of literary festivities, the spirit of Ángela María Dávila Malavé weaves throughout each activity. It is her legacy—layered, complex, and unafraid to confront social issues—that underscores how poetry can be simultaneously accessible and profound. Ultimately, FIP-PR champions an inclusive vision of literature, embracing both time-honored and avant-garde voices from the island and beyond.
For readers seeking deeper engagement, following the festival’s social media at @festivalpoesiapr (on Instagram and Facebook) offers real-time updates and glimpses of the events. Even if you can’t walk the streets of San Juan or Cayey in person, you can still experience the echoes of live verses and witness firsthand how Puerto Rico’s Festival Internacional de Poesía continues to expand poetry’s horizons.
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