Jaime Sabines
Encyclopedia
Jaime Sabines Gutiérrez (March 25, 1926 - March 19, 1999) was a Mexican
contemporary poet. Known as “the sniper of Literature” as he formed part of a group that transformed literature into reality, he wrote ten volumes of poetry, and his work has been translated into more than twelve languages. His writings chronicle the experience of everyday people in places such as the street, hospital, and playground. Sabines was also a politician.
Before he devoted himself to the study of literature, he spent three years studying medicine before moving on to his real vocation: Spanish and literature, studying at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and obtaining a postgraduate degree. Sabines was an outstanding student at the Mexican Writers Centre from 1964 to 1965 and part of the jury for the Casa de las Americas prize
. In addition to his literary activity, he participated in politics and became a federal deputy
for the First District
of Chiapas
from 1976 to 1979, and for the Federal District
in 1988. Sabines was awarded the Chiapas Award (1979), the Xavier Villaurrutia Award
(1972), the Elias Sourasky Award (1982) and the National Literature Award (1983).
A collection of his work, Nuevo recuento de poemas, was issued by the publisher Joaquín Mortiz in 1977, and the Secretariat of Public Education in 1986. In 1994 he received from the Senate of Mexico
the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor
; in 1995, his selected poems, Pieces of Shadow (trans. W.S. Merwin), was brought out in a bilingual edition by Papeles Privados; and in 2004 Exile Editions (Toronto, Canada) published a bilingual volume of two early Sabines books, Adam and Eve & Weekly Diary and Poems in Prose (trans. Colin Carberry.) Octavio Paz considered him “one of the greatest contemporary poets of our [Spanish] language.”
Sabines died on March 19, 1999.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
contemporary poet. Known as “the sniper of Literature” as he formed part of a group that transformed literature into reality, he wrote ten volumes of poetry, and his work has been translated into more than twelve languages. His writings chronicle the experience of everyday people in places such as the street, hospital, and playground. Sabines was also a politician.
Biography
Sabines was born on March 25, 1926 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.Before he devoted himself to the study of literature, he spent three years studying medicine before moving on to his real vocation: Spanish and literature, studying at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and obtaining a postgraduate degree. Sabines was an outstanding student at the Mexican Writers Centre from 1964 to 1965 and part of the jury for the Casa de las Americas prize
Casa de las Américas Prize
The Casa de las Américas Prize is a Cuban cultural award given by the Casa de las Américas, an organization founded in April 1959. It is one of Latin America’s oldest and most prestigious literary awards....
. In addition to his literary activity, he participated in politics and became a federal deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
for the First District
First Federal Electoral District of Chiapas
The First Federal Electoral District of Chiapas is one of the 300 Electoral Districts into which Mexico is divided for the purpose of elections to the federal Chamber of Deputies and one of 12 such districts in the state of Chiapas.It elects one deputy to the lower house of Congress for each...
of Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
from 1976 to 1979, and for the Federal District
Federal district
Federal districts are a type of administrative division of a federation, under the direct control of a federal government. They exist in various countries and states all over the world.-United States:...
in 1988. Sabines was awarded the Chiapas Award (1979), the Xavier Villaurrutia Award
Xavier Villaurrutia Award
The Xavier Villaurrutia Award is a prestigious literary prize given in Mexico, to a Latin American writer published in Mexico. Founded in 1955, it was named in memory of Xavier Villaurrutia....
(1972), the Elias Sourasky Award (1982) and the National Literature Award (1983).
A collection of his work, Nuevo recuento de poemas, was issued by the publisher Joaquín Mortiz in 1977, and the Secretariat of Public Education in 1986. In 1994 he received from the Senate of Mexico
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor
Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor
The Order of the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor is the highest award bestowed by the Mexican government...
; in 1995, his selected poems, Pieces of Shadow (trans. W.S. Merwin), was brought out in a bilingual edition by Papeles Privados; and in 2004 Exile Editions (Toronto, Canada) published a bilingual volume of two early Sabines books, Adam and Eve & Weekly Diary and Poems in Prose (trans. Colin Carberry.) Octavio Paz considered him “one of the greatest contemporary poets of our [Spanish] language.”
Sabines died on March 19, 1999.
Published poetry
- Horal (1950)
- La señal (1951)
- Adán y Eva (1952)
- Tarumba (1956)
- Diario semanario y poemas en prosa (1961)
- Poemas sueltos (1951–1961)
- Yuria (1967)
- Tlatelolco (1968)
- Maltiempo (1972)
- Algo sobre la muerte del Mayor Sabines (1973)
- Otros poemas sueltos (1973–1994)
- Nuevo recuento de poemas (1977)
- Los amorosos: Cartas a Chepita (2009)
Awards
- 1959 Chiapas, El Ateneo de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas Prize.
- 1964 Scholarship granted by Centro Mexicano de Escritores (Mexican Center of Writers)
- 1973 Xavier Villaurrutia AwardXavier Villaurrutia AwardThe Xavier Villaurrutia Award is a prestigious literary prize given in Mexico, to a Latin American writer published in Mexico. Founded in 1955, it was named in memory of Xavier Villaurrutia....
for Maltiempo. - 1982 Elías Sourasky Award
- 1983 National Prize for Language and Literature.
- 1986 Juchimán de Plata AwardJuchimán de Plata Award (Mexico)The Juchimán de Plata Award is a prize granted by Juchimanes de Plata, a Mexican civil association, to those personalities distinguished by their achievements in arts and literature, in science and technology, in communication sciences, and in human rights and peace. Four Juchimán de Plata Awards...
- 1991 Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
Medal - 1994 Belisario Domínguez Medal of HonorBelisario Domínguez Medal of HonorThe Order of the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor is the highest award bestowed by the Mexican government...
- 1996 Premio Mazatlán de Literatura, for Pieces of shadow