Timeless Feminist Wisdom: A poetic conversation between Adela Zamudio and Adrienne Rich

Lynette Yetter, translator of Bolivian feminist poet Adela Zamudio’s work from the Spanish and Sara Guest, local teacher of American feminist Poet Adrienne Rich’s work will facilitate a “conversation” between these two poets through overlaps and confluences in their canons — in a belated celebration of Zamudio’s birthday! Come for the poetry and stay for the cake.

Adela Zamudio (1854-1928), Bolivia
Adela Zamudio is Bolivia’s most celebrated writer and educator. Her birthday, October 11th, is a national holiday. Self-taught, she was the mother of feminism and women’s education in Bolivia, and was active for Indigenous People’s rights. The President of Bolivia crowned her with gold laurel leaves in honor of her cultural contributions. Many of her works have been translated into English for the first time by Lynette Yetter. Zamudio’s celebration of lesbian love and her societal critiques continue to resonate today.


Adrienne Rich (1929-2012), USA
American poet, scholar, teacher, and critic whose many volumes of poetry trace a stylistic transformation from formal, well-crafted but imitative poetry to a more personal and powerful style that shared her activism, feminist ideology and critical lens on culture, gender dynamics, women’s issues and lesbian (and LGBTQ+) rights. Rich turned down the National Medal of the Arts in 1997, publicly claiming that the politics of the Bill Clinton administration conflicted with her ideas about art. She was awarded the Bollingen Prize in 2003. Rich taught at numerous universities, including Stanford and Cornell, inspiring a generation of poets with her singular voice, style and content.