The Aruba poet Omaira Britten 50 years milestone marks a remarkable cultural journey, as Mrs. Omaira Britten celebrates five decades of writing poetry that has touched the hearts of countless Arubans. Her poetic journey began 50 years ago when Matutino DIARIO first opened its doors to her work, giving her a platform to share her words with the community.
Poetry, often described as the heartbeat of humanity, has long given voice to love, sorrow, hope, and remembrance. For Mrs. Britten, poetry became a calling rooted deeply in faith and personal experience. She recalls that the late Jossy Mansur (dfm) encouraged her to develop her God-given gift, allowing her to publish her poetry in DIARIO free of charge. In return, she made a lifelong decision never to charge anyone for her poems, believing that a gift received from God should be shared freely.
The Aruba poet Omaira Britten 50 years story is closely tied to personal loss and spiritual growth. After the passing of her father, she experienced deep grief and questioned her faith. Years later, she felt spiritually guided to write her first poem dedicated to him—a moment she describes as receiving clarity about her purpose and message through poetry.
Over the years, Mrs. Britten has received countless requests to write poems for families experiencing loss, celebration, or reflection. Many have told her how accurately her poems captured their life stories and emotions. She often approaches people she senses are in need of encouraging words, finding inspiration at all hours, even in the early morning.
Her poetry has become a familiar presence during special occasions such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and other meaningful dates. True to her values, she has never accepted payment. Instead, she says her greatest reward is when people recognize her on the street, embrace her, and share how her poetry helped them through difficult times.
As part of the Aruba poet Omaira Britten 50 years celebration, she offers a message to aspiring poets: to write with courage, faith, and sincerity. She encourages them to nurture the gifts they were born with, believing that poetry—when written from the heart—has the power to change live
