Māris Čaklais (16 June 1940 – 13 December 2003) was a Latvian poet, writer, and journalist.

Biography

Čaklais studied journalism at the

University of Latvia University of Latvia (, shortened ''LU'') is a public research university located in Riga, Latvia. The university was established in 1919. History The University of Latvia, initially named as the Higher School of Latvia () was founded on Se ...

until 1964; his first publications appeared in 1960. He translated to Latvian

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, and

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, among others. He also wrote the lyrics, which were set to

Imants Kalniņš Imants Kalniņš (born 26 May 1941) is a Latvian composer, musician and politician. Having studied classical and choral music, he has written seven symphonies, several operas (including the first rock opera in the USSR, ), oratorios, cantatas ...

' music in the movie directed by Rolands Kalniņš, '' Four White Shirts'' and

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's play "Liliom". Čaklais worked at the newspapers "Literatūra un Māksla" (Literature and Art) and "Literatūra un Māksla Latvijā” (Literature and Art in Latvia), and for the

Radio Free Europe Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a media organization broadcasting news and analyses in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Headquartered in Prague since 1995, RFE/RL ...

. In 2000, Čaklais was a member of the Latvian delegation to the European writers project ''Literature Express Europe 2000''. From 2000 to 2003, he was the editor-in-chief of the literary journal '' Karogs''. Following re-establishing of Latvian independence in 1990, Čaklais received the

Fridtjof Nansen Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 1861 – 13 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and co-founded the ...

International Award (1994), the Latvian Annual Literature Award (2000), the

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars () is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is ''Per aspera ad astra'', meaning "Through hardships towards the ...

(2000), and the

Herder Prize The Herder Prize (), named after the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), was a prestigious international prize awarded every year from 1964 to 2006 to scholars and artists from Central and Southeast Europe whose life and wor ...

(2002). He died in Riga in 2003.

Bibliography

Poetry

* Pagaidu latvietis Provisional Latvian Riga: Elpa (2002) * Mana mājas lapa tavai mājas lapai rom My Homepage to Yours Riga: Jāņa Rozes apgāds (2000) * Vientuļš riteņbraucējs Lonely Cyclist Riga: Preses nams (1997) * Izgāja bulvārī Brīvība he Freedom Went Out on the Boulevard (1994) * Slepeni ugunskuri ecret Bonfires (1992) * Labrīt, Heraklīt! ood Morning, Heraclitus! Riga: Liesma (1989) * Mīlnieks atgriežas noziegumvietā Lover Returns to the Crime Scene (1989) * Cilvēksauciena attālumā t a Shouting Distance Riga: Liesma (1984) * Kurzemes klade Notebook of Kurzeme Riga: Liesma (1982) * Pulksteņu ezers Lake of Clocks Riga: Liesma (1979) * Strautuguns he Glitter of a Stream Riga: Liesma (1978) * Cilvēks, uzarta zeme Man, Ploughed Land Riga: Liesma (1976) * Sastrēgumstunda he Peak Hour Riga: Liesma (1974) * Zāļu diena Day of Flowers Riga: Liesma (1972) * Lapas balss he Voice of a Leaf Riga: Liesma (1969) * Kājāmgājējs un mūžība Walker and the Eternity Riga: Liesma (1967) * Pirmdiena onday Riga: Liesma (1965)

Children's books

* Jautrā govs, skumjā govs/ proza Happy Cow, a Gloomy Cow/ fiction Riga: Pētergailis (2002) * Aprīļa pilieni he Droplets of April Riga: Liesma (1990) * Ķocis he Little Old Basket Riga: Liesma (1984) * Minkuparks itty Park Riga: Liesma (1978) * Bimm-bamm. Riga: Liesma (1973) * Divi dzīvi zaldātiņi un citas pasakas wo Live Soldiers and Other Tales Riga: Likteņstāsti (1966)

Other writings

* Profesionālis un ziedlapiņas Professional and Flower Petals Riga: Liesma (1985) * Nozagtā gliemežnīca he Stolen Seashell Riga: Liesma (1980) * Saule rakstāmgaldā he Sun in the Writing Desk Riga: Liesma (1975) * Dzer avotu, ceļiniek rink from the Spring, Traveler Riga: Liesma (1969) * Izaicinājums. Pirmā Latvijas Valsts prezidente Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Challenge: the First Woman President of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Riga: Pētergailis (2003) * Gaismas kungs jeb sāga par Gunaru Birkertu he Lord of Light or a Saga on Gunārs Birkerts Riga: Pētergailis (2002) * ImKa (par komponistu Imantu Kalniņu) bout composer Imants Kalniņš, ImKa: Imants Kalniņš in Time and Space Riga: Jumava (1998) * Laiks iegravē sejas ime Engraves Faces Riga: Jāņa Rozes apgāds (2000) * Dzeguzes balss (dzeja) he Voice of a Cuckoo (poetry) Riga: Zvaigzne ABC (2000) * Uzraksti uz sētas riting on a Fence Riga: Zvaigzne ABC (1999) * Četri balti krekli (dzeja) our White Shirts (poetry) Riga: Liesma (1991) * Uz manām trepēm (dzeja) ome To My Stairwell (poetry) Riga: Liesma (1979) * Spīdola un putnusuņi. 50 mīlas dzejoļi pidola and the Bird-dogs. 50 love poems Riga: Likteņstāsti (1977) * Viņi dejoja vienu vasaru. Dziesmu teksti hey Danced for Only One Summer. Song lyrics Riga: Likteņstāsti (1966)

Literature

* Rolfs Ekmanis. ''Harmonizer of disharmony. Latvian poet and editor Māris Čaklais''. Journal of Baltic Studies. Vol 40. No. 2. June 2009. pp. 215–243, Latvian translation
jaunagaita.net

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caklais, Maris 1940 births 2003 deaths People from Saldus 20th-century Latvian poets University of Latvia alumni Herder Prize recipients