January 20

Ernesto Cardenal

Ernesto Cardenal (born January 20, 1925) – Nicaraguan priest, poet, theologian

Read about Ernesto Cardenal here

Excerpt from Cardenal's poem "Gethsemani, KY" (1960):

Like empty beer cans, like empty cigarette butts;
my days have been like that.
Like figures passing on a T.V. screen
and disappearing, so my life has gone.
Like cars going by fast on the roads
with girls laughing and radios playing. . .
Beauty got obsolete as fast as car models
and forgotten radio hits.
Nothing is left of those days, nothing,
but empty beer cans, cigarette butts,
smiles on a faded photo, torn tickets
and the sawdust with which, in the mornings,
they swept out the bars.

Listen to excerpts of some of Cardenal's poems (Spanish) here


Nancy Kress

Nancy Kress (born January 20, 1948) – U.S. science fiction writer – Probability Space (2002)

Read an interview with Nancy Kress here

Listen to Nancy Kress talk about her writing

Nancy Kress Youtube

Uni Arge

Uni Arge (born January 20, 1971) – Faroese / Danish soccer player, journalist, singer/songwriter