Chairil Anwar (26 July 1922 – 28 April 1949) was an Indonesian poet and a prominent member of the "1945 Generation" of writers. He is estimated to have written 96 works, including 70 individual poems. Anwar was born and raised in Medan, North Sumatra, before moving to Batavia with his mother in 1940, where he began to enter the local literary circles.

After publishing his first poem in 1942, Anwar continued to write prolifically. However, his poems were at times censored by the Japanese occupiers in Indonesia during World War II. Living a rebellious lifestyle, Anwar often wrote about themes such as death, individualism, and existentialism. He passed away in Jakarta from an unknown illness.

His work, notable for its use of everyday language and innovative syntax, has been recognized for aiding the development of the Indonesian language. Despite the irregular construction of his poems, they often exhibit unique patterns, drawing influence from foreign poets.