Daina Sirma was born in Dikļi , Latvia, in 1958. She studied philology at the State University of Latvia and now teaches literature at the Valmiera State Gymnasium.

Sirma began writing poetry at a young age, and had her first poems published in various literary and youth magazines between 1977 and 1981. After taking a break from writing, she returned to publishing her poetry in 1990, and began contributing articles on current issues in culture and education to the Valmiera newspaper ‘Liesma’. In 2012, her debut poetry collection Kailsals (Blackfrosts) appeared to critical acclaim, with Sirma receiving the Annual Latvian Literary Award for best debut. Her second book of poetry, iekšpagalms (The Backyard), came out in 2014. Critic Anda Baklāne has singled out Sirma’s unique and original perspective on the drama of Latvian history for praise. In 2017, her third book of poetry, Dievaines (The Days of the Spirits), was published, earning Sirma a second Annual Latvian Literary Award and the Ojārs Vācietis Award just one year later.