Gervasio Bibiano Mendez

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)