Your authentic Cuban identity made you worthy of the highest orders. You founded the National Academy of Arts and Letters in 1910. In 1914, you chaired the commission in charge of organizing the festivities for the celebration of the centenary of Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda.

There was no person more responsible and passionate about Marti’s work than you, that is why you were entrusted with the poetry in the first edition of the Complete Works of José Martí.

You were an intense contributor in El Fígaro, La Habana Elegante, Social y Cuba Contemporánea; the elite of the cultural magazines of that time.

You fought tirelessly for the intellectual development of Cuban women at par with men. For you there was no personal risk, no political concessions.

Aurelia Castillo, you were an example to follow in the 20th century, where being a woman was not an easy task; and especially not with a determined character like yours.

From your legendary Camagüey we continue to admire you and how better to remember you than with your own words:

Waterpot water

Holy water from this ground where my cradle rocked,

pleasant water like none, that come down pure from the sky.

I kiss you with longing

almost with mystical devotion,

since I think your drops are from my mother

a tender cry seeing that I love you so much,

Camagüey, your heart.

 

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García