The so-called “poet of
pain” was born in Gualeguaychu, on December 30, 1843. From an early age, he
wrote poems and prose and in 1863, he was already writing for La Democracia
newspaper.
Following Justo Jose de Urquiza’s death, troops led by Lopez Jordan invaded
Gualeguaychu. As a result, the April 15 Battalion was assembled and Gervasio
took part in it. When the battle finished, the poet suffered the first symptoms
of a serious illness which would render him invalid.
In 1876, he moved to
Buenos Aires and settled there permanently. In 1878, now bed-ridden, he founded
El Album del Hogar magazine. That year, the committee in charge of the
repatriation of General San Martin’s remains, commissioned him to write a
poem for the General. After the poem was recited at Colon Theatre, his name became
the main talking point all over Buenos Aires.
He died there on April
18, 1897. Gervasio’s remains were brought back to his hometown to mark the
centenary of his birth on May 23, 1943.
(Translated by Alan
Vera)
