Passion and love for their work make people great artists. These are precisely the words that define Camagüey native Olivia de la Caridad Casanova Blanco, the recent winner of the Cordel Poetry Contest, held during the Cucalambeana Fiesta.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- This was the first time she participated in the event as a writer. In her homeland, she belongs to the La Rueda Dentada literary group, through which she became very emphatically familiar with the décima. Therefore, she didn't think twice about submitting a poem to the Canto alrededor del Punto gloss contest, deserving a mention. She, then, ventured into the Décima de Cordel competition.
In this latest endeavor, she ventured into a field she's not used to working in, due to its humorous touch. "That's not my profile as a writer," she asserted. However, life throws surprises, and during the first night of the event, inspiration arose from an unfortunate event. "We got ready and waited for the bus to pick us up so we could leave for the theater, but it never arrived...." she said. So, “they were left dressed and could not dance,” a phrase that gave the winning work its name. Therefore, she was pleasantly surprised when she received the award; it was a unique experience.
For some years now, Olivia has cultivated poetry, especially the national stanza. Other years, she has even won awards in the Ala Décima competition and was a prizewinner in the contest "Glosas Naborí 2024." Her emotion can be summed up in one sentence: "Yes, I'm going to keep doing it." The recognition, gratification, and satisfaction that writing gives her the inspiration to continue along this path, always grateful to those who have helped her get here. She acknowledges that her husband, Nelson Lima Chaviano, a professional improviser, has always been a source of support and inspiration.
She looks to the future with a clear vision: “The Cucalambeana Fiesta is a path for writers. My wish is that this celebration, which is a heritage of the Las Tunas people and the nation, will not decline. I am proud to see the new generations grow in the art of improvisation and written décima, as they will be the ones who will continue this beautiful event.”
Despite time and limitations, Olivia believes that with heart and soul, we can go even further. Her words reflect her desire to always defend our roots, our culture, and our Cuban identity.