I have tried to include poets from as many different countries as possible in order to demonstrate the global impact of the conflict.
Chile was important because of the country’s nitrate mines - nitrates were required in the manufacture of explosives. Exports to Germany ceased at the beginning of WW1, which forced Germany to seek alternative supplies and resulted in her scientists discovering synthetic nitrates. After the War, Germany exported those synthetic nitrates, which, it could be argued contributed to the economic decline of Chile.
The sea Battle of Coronel in November 1914 took place off the coast of Chile and in 1917, Germany's policy of 'unrestricted submarine warfare' affected every sea-faring nation directly and others indirectly (imports, travel, etc.).
Chile reacted in February 1917 by making a formal diplomatic protest, stating that the German measures were unacceptable and that Chile reserved the right to defend her ships should they be attacked by German submarines.
Gabriela’s Mother brought her up alone because her father left the family when she was just three years old. Gabriela’s Mother was not in good health, so she had to become the bread-winner and became a teaching assistand when she was sixteen.
A year later, Gabriela met Romeo Ureta and they fell in love with each other. Sadly, Romeo took his own life three years later, which, together with the loss of a nephew, had a lasting impact on Gabriela.
From them on Gabriela wrote, publishing several collections of poetry and articles about education., and she continued teaching.
In 1945, Gabriela became the first woman Latin American poet to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Nobel citation read:
“…for her lyric poetry which, inspired by powerful emotions, has made her name a symbol of the idealistic aspirations of the entire Latin American world“
“Song of Death” by Gabriela Mistral
Old Woman Census-taker,
Death the Trickster,
when you’re going along,
don’t you meet my baby.
Sniffing at newborns,
smelling for the milk,
find salt, find corn meal,
don’t find my milk.
Anti-Mother of the world,
People-Collector –
on the beaches and byways,
don’t meet that child.
The name he was baptized,
that flower he grows with,
forget it, Rememberer.
Lose it, Death.
Let wind and salt and sand
drive you crazy, mix you up
so you can’t tell
East from West,
or mother from child,
like fish in the sea.
And on the day, at the hour,
find only me.
Sources: http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/uboat_chile.htm
https://www.biographyonline.net/poets/gabriela_mistral.html
