Manuel Ortiz Guerrero facts for kids

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero (born July 16, 1894 – died May 8, 1933) was a famous poet and musician from Paraguay. He is remembered for his beautiful poems and for writing the lyrics for many popular Paraguayan songs. He wrote in both Spanish and Guaraní, the native language of Paraguay.

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero's Life Story

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero was born in Ybaroty, a neighborhood in Villarrica del Espíritu Santo, Paraguay. His mother, Susana Guerrero, sadly passed away after he was born. Manuel was then raised by his grandmother, Florencia Ortiz.

Early Life and Education

Manuel went to school in Villarrica. Even from a young age, he showed a great interest in books and learning. He was a quiet and shy person, not very social. At the Colegio Nacional de Villarrica, he started to write his first poems. His classmates began calling him "Manú," a nickname that stayed with him forever.

Moving to Asunción

In 1914, Manuel moved to Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay. He continued his studies at the Colegio Nacional de la Capital. There, he became known as a talented poet and a leader for many young writers of his time.

Publishing His Works

Manuel's first poems appeared in the Revista del Centro Estudiantil, a student magazine. Soon, local newspapers noticed his talent. This helped him become popular and reach a wider audience. One of his most famous poems, "Loca," was published in the magazine Letras. He lived with his friend, who was also a poet, Guillermo Molinas Rolón.

In the 1920s, Manuel published more poems like "Surgente," "Pepitas," and "Nubes del este." He also wrote plays such as "Eireté," "La Conquista," and "El crimen de Tintalila." He wrote the lyrics in Guaraní for some of the songs of his friend, the composer José Asunción Flores. Some of his pieces, like "India" and "Buenos Aires," were written in Spanish.

Exile and Later Years

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero was later forced to leave his home country of Paraguay. He went to Brazil and then to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He passed away in Buenos Aires in 1933 from Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy. His ashes were later brought back to his hometown in Paraguay. There is also a plaza in Asunción named after him and José Asunción Flores. After his death, some of his works were published, including Obras completas (1952) and Arenillas de mi tierra (1969).

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero's Creative Works

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero's writing style was part of a movement called modernism. His poem "Loca" is a good example of this. He also wrote many romantic poems, such as "Raída poty," "Guarán-i," "La sortija," and "Diana de gloria."

Writing in Two Languages

Manuel wrote equally well in both Spanish and Guaraní. He was especially successful with his Guaraní poems. Many of these poems became the lyrics for important guaranias, a type of Paraguayan music, composed by José Asunción Flores. Some of these famous songs include "Panambí verá," "Nde rendape aju," "Kerasy," and "Paraguaype."

A Poet's Dedication

The Brazilian writer Walter Wey wrote about Manuel Ortiz Guerrero in his book La poesía paraguaya – Historia de una incógnita. He said that Manuel showed great courage by being an artist in a country where it was hard to publish books. Manuel was determined to live only from his art, as writing poems and playing the guitar were his main talents.

Manuel would print his poems using his own typewriter. Then, he would sell them himself, going from door to door. He connected with people in a very special way. Even when he was very ill, Manuel continued to create. He would meet his friends in a quiet corner of his room, making sure they were comfortable. His struggles and dedication are reflected in some of his verses and in small booklets he published called "Cantimplora." These show the challenging journey of this talented Paraguayan poet.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Ortiz Guerrero para niños