Maurice Carême

• Name — Maurice Carême • Born — 12 May 1899 • Birthplace — Wavre, Belgium • Died — 13 January 1978 • Place of death — Anderlecht, Belgium • Occupation — poet • Illustration — Commemoration of Maurice Carême in Paris. The text reads: Eh oui! Je le sais bien! Je n'emporterai rien, Pas même l'ombre d'un nuage. Mais qu'elle est belle, dans ma main, Cette fraise sauvage! Eh yes! I know it well! I will not take anything, Not even the shadow of a cloud. But how beautiful, in my hand, This wild strawberry!

Carême was born in Walloon Brabant in Wavre, then a rural part of Belgium. Although he grew up in a family of modest means – his father was a housepainter, and his mother a shopkeeper. Carême had a happy childhood, which would be reflected in his work. Carême attended school in his hometown, and in 1914 was awarded a scholarship to attend Normal School in Tienen. It was at this time that he began writing poetry. In 1918, he graduated from Normal School and was assigned a primary school teacher's position in Anderlecht, near Brussels. Carême's poetry progressively took on a greater place in his life, and in 1943 he resigned from his teaching profession to commit himself fully to writing. He also translated works of Dutch poets into French. Carême died in Anderlecht. At his request, he was buried in Wavre. His wife died in 1990. His home in Anderlecht, "La Maison Blanche", now houses the Musée Maurice Carême.

Many of his poems have been set to music, by Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc, Henri Sauguet, Jacques Chailley (1910–1999), Florent Schmitt, Carl Orff, Fabrice Boulanger, or Norbert Rosseau (1907–1975): L'Eau passe, a cycle of songs for 3 soloists, piano, harp and strings, 1954).

Maurice Carême is recorded as having received Prince des poètes, Prix Victor Rossel and Prix Auguste-Capdeville.