Francisco Gonzalo "Pachín" Marin is a poet I admired and as born in March, I remember and pay homage. Pachín is not as studied and appreciated as Puerto Ricans and other poets is probably due to the fact that more than a poet was a man of action, a revolutionary who was expressed in poems (as well as stories and newspapers) and died in exile while participated in the war of independence of Cuba. It was also he had the idea to design the flag of Puerto Rico with inverted colors of the flag of the sister island. To Pachín as Lola Rodriguez de Tio, both were "the two wings of a bird." Take his story (which is like for a movie) and some of his poetry. Pachín Marín was born in Arecibo un March 12, 1863 in a humble home but that discussed the history of the country, was praised figure Betances and after 5 years listening to his parents express their Despite failure after the Grito de Lares then glorify what happened in Yara (Cuba), for the same date. His father was a respected journalist's brother Ramon Marin and both grandmothers were black. Being mulatto caused severe trauma as seen in some poems. With little formal education, was rather self-taught (like many in the nineteenth century) as to their work as a typographer in press developed a taste for reading. Was also a musician and journalist. But above all, a patriot.
His first political commitment was the autonomist after participating in the famous meeting at which the party was founded in Teatro La Perla de Ponce on March 7, 1887 under the leadership of Castro Baldorioty. His enthusiasm led him to devote Baldorioty a book of poems entitled "My Pence" and his return to Arecibo founded a newspaper, "The coachman" to spread the ideas autonomy. But this movement had kept pace with that of The Boicotizadora and the government broke the terrible persecution of the autonomy that is known in our history as a "terrible year." Pachín will feel threatened and forced to flee to Santo Domingo where the time is jailed and expelled by the dictator Lilís for daring to criticize him. Going to Venezuela where he plays the dictator and the same fate having to flee to Martinique, then to St. Thomas and finally gets back to Puerto Rico with the help of several townspeople. He settled in Ponce where republication "The coachman" triggering a chase that forced him out in the final exile in Puerto Rico.
In New York is a member of the Revolutionary Junta of Cuba and Puerto Rico, meets and close friend of José Martí who help in the revolutionary propaganda. After two years, for reasons unknown to Haiti will be able to start a club where revolutionary but must return to New York in 1896. There he learns not only the death of Martí fought in Cuba but that of his brother Wenceslas, and decides to join the Cuban struggle under the command of Gen. Maximo Gomez. His death is not fighting but because ill with malaria in the middle of the swamp of Turiguanó in the Cuban jungle and not to stop their partners asked them to leave him in a hammock strung between two mangroves. The following month they returned to fetch his skeleton found in the hammock clutching his rifle. To date no one knows where their remains lie. The details of his horrific death a blogger publishes Cuban province of Villa Clara who makes several tributes to our poet martyr. She feels ashamed that fellow (Cuban) I have left to their fate but it is clear that Pachín begged them to go ahead and leave him.
For his poetry, what is striking is their spontaneity and sincerity without regard to formalities, is quintessential Romantic poet and his poetry is aggressive, strong and expressive, rebellious and committed. Poeticized Pachín Betances ideas but above all communicating all the events of his life through the poems which are almost autobiographical. Among these stand three poems: "The Nightingale" (a metaphor of patriotism), "The Emissary" (imitates a poem by Martí in which the heroes and the dead come to life, the theme is "continue the struggle") and my favorite " My father. " In the latter Pachín lets you know your parent is going to go to the fight and explains his reasons and in so doing defines himself as a patriot, a poet and as a son. It goes like this amazing poem that describes better than any other:
there in my life a waste vendabal curse
do not know, nor regret, and I
him as chest pain,
the sword to the hilt, the arena the bull.
My pen of writer, educated or wild
the weapon is wielded my ideas;
to me that at the cost of
outrage does not seem well-being: a crime.
In other relent with
infamous indecency on the occasion of the imminent risk.
I do I always go
duty calls and once on the site should not bias.
The Muslim
resign themselves to fate and I have never, in the midst of my mourning
I picking my way
gap with own efforts and without looking at the sky.
Fatherland "moans the eternal orphan
his throat while a knot press?
it no longer hear your concerns paternal
I understand that my country only groan.
Ay! Hubiéraseme given more than name,
a happy country and hospitable as I'd
credential
man and no pattern of degraded outcast.
Fear not. I love
cooing and return the well ciphered my pride.
champion It has become your child!
In storm became his lullaby!
When the wreck, if it comes-
think my honor that brave captain,
be the first blind
the storm and the last step on the bridge.
Sources:
1. Cifredo Figueroa, Patria, Pachín Marin: Hero and Poet (San Juan: Puerto Rican Culture Institute, 1967)
2. Puerto Rican Literature course notes that I took with Dr. Ramón Luis Acevedo at the Centre for Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
