Lisel Mueller

Date of Birth: February 8, 1924

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: February 21, 2020

Biography

Lisel Mueller was a German-born American poet known for her deeply introspective and lyrical poetry. Born in Hamburg, Germany, she emigrated to the United States in 1939 to escape the Nazi regime. Mueller’s work often explores themes of displacement, memory, and the intersection of personal and historical events. She published several collections of poetry throughout her career, including “The Need to Hold Still,” which won the National Book Award in 1981, and “Alive Together: New and Selected Poems,” which garnered the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1997. Her poetic voice is celebrated for its clarity, emotional depth, and ability to capture the human experience in a way that is both personal and universal.

5 Interesting Facts about Lisel Mueller

1. Lisel Mueller fled Nazi Germany at the age of 15 and settled in the United States.

2. She worked as a teacher and a translator in addition to her career as a poet.

3. Mueller’s poetry often reflects her experiences as an immigrant and her reflections on history and personal identity.

4. She received numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the Carl Sandburg Award.

5. Mueller’s poem “When I Am Asked” poignantly discusses the relationship between grief and artistic creation.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lisel Mueller

1. “Poetry is not as easy as it looks. The essence of poetry is brevity, and the essence of poetry is music.”

2. “I am alive together with you in this moment.”

3. “I believe happiness is the exact opposite of grief.”

4. “Our lives are Swiss, so many small valleys, carefully kept, contiguous estates, / swarming with secrets.”

5. “Memory is the only afterlife we can be sure of, and is, in most ways, a more authentic eternity than anything promised by religion.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Lisel Mueller’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but her literary contributions and accolades have cemented her legacy in the world of poetry.