Mercedes Negron Muñoz a.k.a. "Clara Lair" (March 8, 1895 – August 26, 1973) born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, was an influencial poet whose work delt with the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican. March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... August 26 is the 238th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (239th in leap years). ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Barranquitas, Puerto Rico is a small mountain town located in the central part of Puerto Rico, about one hour by winding roads from San Juan, the capital. ... Poets are authors of poems. ...

Mercedes was born into one of Puerto Ricos most influencial families, which included writers, poets and politicans. She was raised in the town of Barranquitas, which is located in the central mountain region of the island. Her father was the poet Quintin Negron and her uncles the poet Jose A. Negron and poet and statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera. She was also the cousin Puerto Rico's first elected governor Luis Muñoz Marin. Mercedes received her primary and secondary education in her hometown and she studied literature in the University of Puerto Rico. Though anyone who creates a written work may be called a writer, the term is usually reserved for those who write creatively or professionally, or those who have written in many different forms. ... A politician is an individual involved in politics, sometimes this may include political scientists. ... Luis Muñoz Rivera Luis Muñoz Rivera (July 17, 1859 - November 15, 1916) was a poet, journalist and a politician from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. ... The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) is the university system of Puerto Rico. ...

Mercedes, influenced by her family's love of literature, developed a love for poetry because it was the form of art which permitted her to freely express herself. In 1937, she published one of her most renowned poems, "A ras del Cristal" (Cracked Glass) under the name "Clara Lair", her assumed seudonuim. She soon gained recognition as one of the great poetist of Latin-American. 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

In 1950, she published her second book of poems, titled "Tropico Amargo" (Sour Tropic), In this book she included some of her previously published poems plus a new series of poems which she called "Mas Alla del Poniente". Both of her books received literary awards and public recognition from the Institude of Puerto Rican Literature. Among the many poets who were influenced by Mercedes' poetic style was the renowned Puerto Rican poet, Julia de Burgos. 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Julia de Burgos (February 17, 1914-July 6, 1953), born in Carolina, Puerto Rico has been considered by many as the greatest poetists to have been born in Puerto Rico and maybe in all of Latin-America. ...

In 1961, The Puerto Rican Institute of Culture published a book which included a selection of her poems. The Puerto Rican Institute of Culture also published in their magazine fragments of her poems "Memoria de una isleña" (Memories of an Islander) and "Ultimos" (Last). The Puerto Rican poet Luis Llorens Torres called Mercedes "The Puerto Rican Alfonsina Storni". 1961 (As MAD Magazine pointed out on its first cover for the year) was the first upside-down year - i. ... Luis Llorens Torres (May 14, 1876 - June 16, 1944) born in Juana Diaz, Puwerto Rico, was a poet, journalist, playwright, and politician. ...

Mercedes Negron Muñoz died on August 26, 1973 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico. ...

A docu-drama about the life of Mercedes titled "A Passion named Clara Lair" was produced and directed by Ivonne Belen in 1996. Puerto Rico has honored her memory by naming a school after her and in the town of Hormigueros, there is an Hogar Clara Lair, a non-profit organization founded in 1991, which protects defenseless women. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Hormigueros is a municipality of Puerto Rico. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans