Alfonsina Storni

Alfonsina Storni (1892-1938) was an Argentinian poet known for unconventional works featuring feminist themes challenging traditional gender roles. Her early writings explored themes of love and desire, yet revealed dissatisfaction with the narrow roles assigned to women. Later, she became a pioneering feminist in Latin American literature, boldly challenging gender inequality and double standards through irony, satire, and candid poems. Later in her career, her writing turned toward philosophical concerns with mortality and the human condition. Unfortunately, after experiencing times of depression and her diagnosis of breast cancer, she committed in 1938 in Mar de Plata, reflected in her final poem, “I Am Going to Sleep”.

Famous works include:

• El dulce daño (1918) - collection of poems exploring themes of love, desire, and vulnerability. These poems also reflect her negative towards men and the role of women in society.

• Irremediablemente (1919) - collection of poems exploring themes of tormented love, suffering, and death while also showing rebellion against the traditional expectations set on women.

• Languidez (1920) - collection of poems exploring themes of inner conflict, fatigue, existential questioning.

• Ocre (1925) - collection of poems exploring themes of exile, loneliness, love, and identity.

Awards:

• First Municipal Prize for Poetry (Buenos Aires, 1920)

• Second National Prize for Literature (Argentina, 1921)