Alfonso Moreno Mora (Cuenca, April 21, 1890 – Cuenca, April 1, 1940) was a modernist poet. He co-founded the magazine Páginas Literarias with his cousin Miguel Moreno Serrano in 1918, becoming its editor in chief. He published poems in this magazine under the pseudonyms Enrique de Rafael and Raedel. He also promoted the work of modernist poets such as Argentina’s Leopoldo Lugones and Nicaragua’s Rubén Darío. Some of the magazines that published Moreno Mora’s poems include Austral, Azul, Proteo, and América Latina. He also contributed to the daily newspapers Diario del Sur, La Nación, and El Mercurio. He was a member of Ecuador’s so-called Decapitated Generation and authored works such as “Visión lírica,” “Epístola a Luis Felipe de la Rosa,” and “Elegías.” On April 1, 1940, shortly before his 50th birthday, Alfonso Moreno Mora passed away in his hometown. Eleven years later, his brother and fellow poet Manuel Moreno Mora published “Alfonso Moreno Mora. Poesía,” a compilation of his literary work.
Early Life and Education
Alfonso Moreno Mora was born on April 21, 1890, in Cuenca, Ecuador, to Domingo Moreno Ordóñez and Bárbara Mora López. He grew up in a close-knit family that valued culture and tradition, the fourth of ten siblings. His mother, educated and insightful, taught him to read and write. Moreno Mora’s early life was filled with stories, folklore, and the beauty of nature, elements that later deeply influenced his poetry. He attended the Escuela de los Hermanos Cristianos and then Colegio Benigno Malo, excelling academically and completing his secondary education in 1909.
Literary Inclination and Career Path
Alfonso Moreno Mora completed a degree in Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Cuenca but remained deeply committed to literature. His childhood in Cuenca and Tarqui inspired the nostalgia and romanticism central to his poetry. In 1917, he gained local recognition with Jardines de invierno, a poem dedicated to Honorato Vázquez Ochoa, marking his emergence as a modernist poet.
In 1918, with the support of his cousin Miguel Moreno Serrano, Moreno Mora founded Páginas Literarias, a magazine promoting modernist literature in Ecuador. As director and editor, he published under pseudonyms Enrique de Rafael and Raedel, while introducing Ecuadorian readers to prominent modernist writers like Leopoldo Lugones and Rubén Darío. The magazine became a vital platform for modernism in Ecuador.
In 1919, he established the “Fiesta de la Lira,” a poetry festival that became a cultural landmark in Cuenca and later inspired the “Festival de la Lira” in 2007. Moreno Mora also influenced the literary scene through his teaching at Colegio Benigno Malo and columns in Diario del Sur, La Nación, and El Mercurio. His work appeared across Latin American publications, cementing his reputation as a significant voice in Ecuadorian modernism.
Association with the Generación Decapitada
Moreno Mora is frequently associated with Ecuador’s Generación Decapitada (the “Decapitated Generation“)—a group of four tragic young poets: Medardo Ángel Silva, Ernesto Noboa y Caamaño, Arturo Borja, and Humberto Fierro. These poets were linked by their shared themes of despair, melancholy, and existential yearning, as well as their untimely deaths, mostly by suicide. Influenced by French Romantic and Symbolist poets, the group embodied modernist ideals, combining deep introspection with an intense disillusionment with modern life. While Moreno Mora did not share their fate, his poetry reflects similar themes, including alienation, nostalgia, and a profound connection to nature.
Moreno Mora’s connection to the Generación Decapitada is examined in depth in the work Alfonso Moreno y la generación decapitada, a selection and study by Agustín Cueva Tamariz and Eugenio Moreno Heredia.
Death and Legacy
Alfonso Moreno Mora passed away on April 1, 1940, in his hometown of Cuenca, just shy of his 50th birthday. Known as the “Caballero del Verso y de la Melancolía” (The Gentleman of Verse and Melancholy), his work left an enduring impact on Ecuadorian literature. Though associated with Ecuador’s Generación Decapitada, he differed from its members by not sharing their tragic fate of suicide; instead, his work explored themes of solitude, nostalgia, and a profound connection to nature with a unique sensitivity. His legacy was cemented in 1951 when his brother, Manuel Moreno Mora, compiled and published Alfonso Moreno Mora. Poesía, a collection of his poetry. This posthumous volume helped to preserve his role in Ecuadorian modernism, where he is remembered for both his delicate lyricism and his contributions to fostering a national literary culture. Today, his influence endures, especially in Cuenca, where festivals and literary discussions continue to celebrate his contributions to Ecuadorian poetry.
Timeline of Alfonso Moreno Mora’s Life
April 21, 1890
- Born in Cuenca, Ecuador, to Domingo Moreno Ordóñez and Bárbara Mora López. He was the fourth of ten children in a family that valued culture, tradition, and education.
1897
- Began his primary education at the Escuela de los Hermanos Cristianos in Cuenca.
1903
- Completed primary school and spent vacations exploring the rural landscapes of Tarqui, which influenced his later poetic themes of nature, nostalgia, and rural life.
1909
- Graduated from Colegio Benigno Malo with a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Humanities. His academic success reflected his passion for learning and literature.
Circa 1910
- Enrolled in the University of Cuenca to study Chemistry and Pharmacy. Although he completed his degree, his true dedication remained with literature and poetry.
1917
- Gained local recognition with the publication of his poem Jardines de invierno, dedicated to Honorato Vázquez Ochoa. This work marked his emergence as a significant modernist poet.
1918
- Founded the literary magazine Páginas Literarias, with support from his cousin Miguel Moreno Serrano and other collaborators. He served as director and editor, publishing his own work under pseudonyms Enrique de Rafael and Raedel, while also promoting modernist writers like Leopoldo Lugones and Rubén Darío.
1919
- Established the “Fiesta de la Lira,” an annual poetry festival in Cuenca aimed at celebrating and promoting poetry. This event later inspired the modern “Festival de la Lira,” established in 2007.
1920s
- Published poetry and literary articles in prominent Latin American magazines, including Austral, Azul, Proteo, and América Latina. Worked as a professor at Colegio Benigno Malo and wrote for Ecuadorian newspapers Diario del Sur, La Nación, and El Mercurio, becoming a respected figure in Ecuadorian literature.
Mid to Late 1930s
- Continued to write poetry and engage in the Ecuadorian literary scene, remaining a vital voice in modernist literature. His influence spread through his teaching and editorial work.
April 1, 1940
- Died in Cuenca at the age of 49. Known as the “Caballero del Verso y de la Melancolía,” his legacy was defined by his poetic exploration of solitude, nostalgia, and Ecuadorian identity.
1951
- His brother, Manuel Moreno Mora, published Alfonso Moreno Mora. Poesía, a posthumous compilation of his works, preserving his impact on Ecuadorian literature and modernism.
2007
- The “Fiesta de la Lira,” originally founded by Moreno Mora in 1919, inspired the creation of the “Festival de la Lira” by Fundación Cultural Banco del Austro, which honors his legacy and contributions to Ecuadorian poetry.
Major Works
Alfonso Moreno Mora’s major works include:
- Elegías
- Epístola a Luis Felipe de la Rosa
- Autobiografía
- Jardines de Invierno
- Visión Lírica
References
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel. MORENO MORA, ALFONSO. Retrieved on October 30, 2024. Click to view.
- EcuRed. Alfonso Moreno Mora. Retrieved on October 30, 2024. Click to view.
- Enciclopedia del Ecuador. Alfonso Moreno Mora. Retrieved on October 30, 2024. Click to view.
- Poemas del Alma. Biografía de Alfonso Moreno Mora. Retrieved on October 30, 2024. Click to view.