Alfonso Cortés facts for kids
Alfonso Cortés (born December 9, 1893) was a famous Nicaraguan poet. Many people consider him the second most important poet from Nicaragua, right after Rubén Darío. Darío started a big literary movement in Spanish-speaking countries called modernismo (modernism). Cortés himself used to say he was "less important than Darío, but more profound." He passed away on February 3, 1969.
Early Life of Alfonso Cortés
Cortés was born in the city of León, Nicaragua. When he was 34 years old, he moved into the house where Rubén Darío, Nicaragua's most celebrated poet, grew up. On February 18, 1927, at the age of 34, Cortés began to experience severe mental health issues. Because of his condition, he spent much of that year chained to the iron grillwork of his bedroom. This was done to prevent him from accidentally hurting himself.
Cortés later spent a few years in a mental hospital in Managua. As time went on, he was moved to his sisters' house in León. His sisters were Margarita, Maria Luisa, and Maria Elsa. He spent his last days there and died in 1969 when he was 75 years old.
Alfonso Cortés did not have any children of his own. However, his youngest sister, Maria Elsa Cortés Bendaña, married a respected lawyer and diplomat named Dr. Emilio Borge. They had four children: Álvaro Emilio, León Alfonso, Livia, and Ivette Maria. These nieces and nephews, and their children, still remember stories about their great-uncle Alfonso. They have great admiration and respect for him.
Cortés had times when his mind was clear and calm. During these moments, his family would unchain him. He would use this time to play the guitar. This guitar is now owned by one of his great-nephews and is carefully kept as a treasure. Cortés would write his poems, often on the edges of newspapers. His handwriting was so tiny that it was hard to read without a magnifying glass. Song of Space was the first poem Cortés wrote after his mental health challenges began, and it is still one of his most popular works.
After he died, Alfonso Cortés was buried with honors in the Cathedral of León. His tomb is right next to that of Rubén Darío.
Literary Works
Poems by Alfonso Cortés
- La odisea del Istmo (1922)
- Poesías (1931)
- Tardes de oro (1934)
- Poemas eleusinos (1935)
- Las siete antorchas del sol (1952)
- 30 poemas de Alfonso (1952)
- Las rimas universales (1964)
- Las coplas del pueblo (1965)
- Las pumas del pasatiempo (1967)
- El poema cotidiano (1967)
- Treinta poemas (1968)
- Poemas (1971)
- Antología (1980)
- 30 poemas de Alfonso (1981)
- El tiempo es hambre y el espacio es frío (1981)
See Also
In Spanish: Alfonso Cortés para niños
