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 ( lv, Latvijas Universitāte, shortened ''LU'') is a state-run university located in Riga, Latvia established in 1919. The ''QS World University Rankings'' places the university between 801st and 1000th globally, seventh ...

until 1964; his first publications appeared in 1960. He translated to Latvian Bertolt Brecht, Paul Celan,

Hans Magnus Enzensberger Hans Magnus Enzensberger (11 November 1929 – 24 November 2022) was a German author, poet, translator, and editor. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Andreas Thalmayr, Elisabeth Ambras, Linda Quilt and Giorgio Pellizzi. Enzensberger was regarde ...

, and Rainer Maria Rilke, among others. He also wrote the lyrics, which were set to

Imants Kalniņš Imants Kalniņš (born 26 May 1941 in Riga, Latvian SSR) 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, ...

' music in the movie directed by

Rolands Kalniņš Rolands Kalniņš (9 May 1922 – 17 May 2022) was a Latvian film director, screenwriter, and producer. Biography Rolands Kalniņš was born on 9 May 1922 in Vecslabada, Istra Parish, Latvia to a post worker family. From 1937 to 1940, he s ...

, ''

Four White Shirts ''Four White Shirts'' ( lv, Četri balti krekli) or ''Breathe Deeply'' (''Elpojiet dziļi'') is a 1967 film directed by Rolands Kalniņš. The film was prevented from being screened by Soviet censors for 20 years following its release. In 2018, ...

'' and

Ferenc Molnár Ferenc Molnár ( , ; born Ferenc Neumann; 12 January 18781 April 1952), often anglicized as Franz Molnar, was a Hungarian-born author, stage-director, dramatist, and poet, widely regarded as Hungary’s most celebrated and controversial play ...

'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 United States government funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East where it says tha ...

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

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvija ...

(2000), and the Herder Prize (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 Latvian poets 20th-century poets University of Latvia alumni Herder Prize recipients