Onildo Sitonio was born on January 27, 1954, in Itaporanga-PB. The Paraíba based in Lauro de Freitas-BA, always liked to read and write. He started reading comics bought at the fair. His brother-in-law Zé Rocha was a poet and started reading his poetry when he was still a boy. In Zé Rocha's library he began to read Augusto dos Anjos, which greatly influenced him. Writing imaginary letters that were read by her niece, at the time she was only 10 years old. At the age of 14, he wrote the poem “Untitled”, “this one because it was engraved in memory”. A geographer, he had an academic education for a short time. “In my life I used commerce as a means and poetry as an end”, said Onildo, who has been writing poetry for 57 years.

With works published in some newspapers in Paraíba, he participated as a partner in the poetry academy of Paraíba, in the 70's. With texts published on some websites and blogs throughout Brazil, he has edited works in books by other authors. He also develops works as a composer: MPB and hymns in some Catholic communities and prayer groups, due to his insertion in the charismatic renewal of the church. He has a book ready, a composition with his most expressive poetic texts, entitled “Poetry in Prose and Verse”. Lately, the artist has been posting a lot of material on his social networks, “The individual sold two birds, one sang a lot and the other kept silent. The guy asked how much the singer was. The seller replied that it cost 500 reais, and the draft 5000 reais. One was a singer and the other a songwriter. I tell this joke when I'm going to sing around."

A costumbrista poet, who talks about everyday poetry, facts of his life, "I like to write poetry about the real, about the real, about my land... my poetry has meaning", he says. With 39 years of marriage, he made a string for his wife entitled “Galega Bela”, "I have a beautiful family, I have 5 children and 4 grandchildren, my wife is still beautiful in everything... My wife encourages me, she likes the things I write.. ."

In addition to being a poet, composer and musician (tambourine, guitar) he also likes to sing, especially in church, and at the age of 67, he is preparing a new book of strings and sonnets. He has a project to make presentations at fairs in São Cristóvão and region, such as Feira da Joy in Vilas do Atlântico, with guest poets such as poet Vicente Lima, Peri Rudá, among other cordelistas and musicians, on Saturdays and Sundays.

The poet lost some of his works throughout his life, due to changes and the limitations of archiving options at the time. About his inspirations, he says that he has always read everything and mentions names such as Albino Forjaz, Olavo Bilac, Jorge Amado, Aluízio Azevedo and Augusto dos Anjos. According to him, to write it is necessary to be a good reader, because "those who don't read, barely speak, barely hear and barely see".

In 2020 he idealized the "plasdel" which is the plasticized string. He used the “O Exame” and “Por Ti” twine already plasdelados, and there is much more to come, wait!

Interview with Onildo Sitonio by Israela Ramos