Poets - Ecuadorian Literature

Max Puertas Alarcón

Max Puertas Alarcón (Loja, Ecuador, December 17, 1935 – Machala, Ecuador, July 22, 2016) was an Ecuadorian lawyer, judge, writer, and cultural figure. Known for his integrity in the legal field, he held various roles, including judge, where he was celebrated for his ethical standards. He was also an active contributor to Ecuadorian literature, authoring works such as Historia del pequeño Miguel Ángel (2002), an autobiographical work depicting early 20th-century life in Loja and Portovelo.

Jenny Romero Pape

Jenny Romero Pape (1930 – Unknown) was an Ecuadorian poet and cultural figure. Best known for her poetry collection La rosa de cristal (1958), she explored themes of love, solitude, faith, and patriotism. In 1968, she also published Por un mundo mejor, a work linked to Ecuadorian essays and Catholicism. Romero Pape was also active in the cultural scene of Guayaquil as a member of the Agrupación “Cultura y Fraternidad” (Culture and Fraternity Association). She wrote the lyrics for the anthem of the “Nueve de Octubre” National High School, created during a competition, with music composed by Divina Icaza Coronel.

Patricia Velásquez de Mera

Patricia Velásquez de Mera, formerly Patricia Velásquez Villacís (Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1974), is an Ecuadorian poet, novelist, and visual artist. She began her literary career with the novel El Porvenir de Aniata (1996) and later published poetry collections such as Entre dos ríos (2001) and Mapa de amor y de dolor (2007) under her married name, Patricia Velásquez de Mera. In addition to her literary accomplishments, she embarked on a painting journey at age 45, adding a new dimension to her artistic expression. Often using the pseudonym “Dagor” for her online poetry and art, Velásquez de Mera’s work explores themes of love, existence, and human emotion, seamlessly blending her literary and visual artistry into a unified creative vision.

Efraín Pérez Castro

Efraín Leonidas Pérez Castro (Guayaquil, November 16, 1912 – May 2, 2001) was an Ecuadorian writer, journalist, and columnist. As the son of Ismael Pérez Pazmiño, founder of El Universo, he played a key role in the newspaper’s development alongside his brothers. Pérez Castro was known for his insightful editorial columns and his contributions to Ecuadorian literature, publishing works such as Prosa y verso (1960). He was also an active member of cultural organizations like the Círculo de Periodistas del Guayas and Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. In 1992, he was awarded the National Order of Merit for his contributions to Ecuador’s cultural landscape.

Lucía Gómez de Bracho Urdaneta

Lucía Gómez de Bracho Urdaneta (1940 – Unknown) was a diplomat, writer, and poet. She held a doctorate in diplomacy and was renowned for her expertise in maritime law, particularly through her book Biografía del Mar (1977), which earned the First Latin American Prize in Maritime Law. She also authored the historical work Tratado de Guayaquil frente a la historia and published poetry, including the collection Transparencia. Gómez de Bracho Urdaneta served as Subdirector of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and wrote the lyrics for the hymn of the Asociación Ecuatoriana de Radiodifusión (AER).

Hugo Vásquez Almazán

Hugo Vásquez Almazán (Guayaquil, April 29, 1936 – Guayaquil, May 6, 2008) was an Ecuadorian priest, theologian, poet, and author of over 90 works. He is best known for his significant contributions to the Schoenstatt Movement in Ecuador. As one of its founders, he played a crucial role in spreading the teachings of Father Joseph Kentenich, whom he met personally in 1965. Father Hugo was the first Latin American priest admitted to the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests and authored several notable works, including Nuestra contribución al cielo and Pondo: Poemas. His legacy extends into both religious and literary fields, and he was posthumously featured in several anthologies. He also served as a professor at the Catholic University of Guayaquil.

José Ayala González

José Ayala González (Guayaquil, August 2, 1885 – June 20, 1974) was an Ecuadorian poet, farmer, and public servant. Known for his romantic and nostalgic poetry, he contributed to various publications and published a collection of his works titled La Noche Avanza. Raised in a cultured and prosperous family, Ayala González spent much of his life managing agricultural estates and held several public offices, including Chief Political Officer of Babahoyo and Vice President of the Consejo Provincial de Los Ríos. His work remained within the Romantic tradition, and while newer literary movements had emerged, his poetry continued to reflect deep emotions and connections to rural life, showing a strong attachment to the past.

Gilberto Molina Correa

Gilberto Molina Correa (Cañar, September 20, 1915 – Unknown) was an Ecuadorian poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer, essayist, and educator. His diverse body of work spanned multiple genres, including notable contributions such as the novel Sismos y abismos (1969), the short story collection Almas conturbadas (1962), and the play Censo sin consenso (1962). He also authored the poetry collection La inefable presencia (1966). He was an influential advocate for educational reform and a school director, serving as head of Escuela Municipal “Joaquín Donoso” in Vinces. Molina Correa left a lasting mark on both Ecuadorian literature and education.

Néstor Campuzano Mendoza

Néstor Campuzano Mendoza (Guayaquil, February 7, 1926 – Unknown) was an Ecuadorian poet and intellectual best known for writing the lyrics to the anthem of Universidad Laica Vicente Rocafuerte. His literary career, marked by a deep sensitivity and mastery of sonnets, earned him notable recognition, including the ‘Estrella de Octubre’ award in 1956 for his Soneto a Cristo. His works, such as Horas Milagrosas, Trigal Azul, and Elegía del Ayer, reflect a melancholic and philosophical outlook on life. He is remembered as a revered figure in Ecuadorian literature for his contributions to poetry and cultural heritage.

María Eugenia Puig

María Eugenia Puig Lince (Guayaquil, August 2, 1919 – Quito, February 4, 2001) was an Ecuadorian poet, intellectual, and diplomat. She co-founded the Grupo Cultural “Oasis” in 1955 alongside Rosa Borja de Ycaza and Zoila Luisa Campodónico de Caputti, and served as its director, documenting the group’s activities in the magazine “Oasis.” She was also a key figure in founding the Pan-American Women’s Round Table of Ecuador, advocating for women’s cultural involvement. Her legacy is honored through the Museo Municipal de Arte “María Eugenia Puig Lince,” inaugurated in Guayaquil in 2013.

María Leonor Madinyá Andrade

María Leonor Madinyá Andrade (Guayaquil, February 15, 1936 – Guayaquil, September 7, 2006) was an Ecuadorian poet known for her deeply introspective and melancholic poetry. Despite becoming blind at the age of 22, she mastered Braille and continued her literary pursuits, becoming an advocate for the blind. Her works, such as Palpitar de un sueño (1966) and Ventana del Alba (1968), are celebrated for their emotional depth and spiritual themes. Madinyá also hosted the long-running radio program Música y Poesía, promoting poetry in Ecuador for over two decades.

Luis Cisneros Noriega

Luis Cisneros Noriega (Riobamba, 1908 – 1987) was an Ecuadorian poet, composer, and pianist. He published several poetry collections, including Cúpulas en la nieve (1960), Pinceladas (1975), Blancuras (1977), and Presencia (1983). As a composer, he created notable pieces such as the pasodoble “Quito“ and the popular song “Chola Cholita.” Cisneros Noriega also worked as a pianist at Radio El Prado in Riobamba during the 1930s, contributing to the promotion of Ecuadorian music and culture. A street in Pastaza and a school in Chimborazo are named in his honor.

Elías Candel Espinoza

Elías Candel Espinoza (Guayaquil, 1896 – 1983) was an Ecuadorian journalist, poet, and coplero, known by his pen name Adel Celinas. By the 1930s, his coplas were appearing in El Universo newspaper, alongside the caricatures of Virgilio Jaime Salinas and the column Los Jueves Alegres by José Antonio Campos Maingon. Over the decades, he continued writing for the paper, producing poems and verses, including a notable tribute to tennis legend Pancho Segura in the 1950s. His poem La gran fecha was later included in the anthology Cantos a Guayaquil (2011).

Rigoberto Cordero y León

Rigoberto Cordero y León (Cuenca, June 11, 1916 – Cuenca, August 1998) was an Ecuadorian poet, writer, and scholar whose work significantly contributed to the development of Ecuadorian literature. Known for his extensive body of poetry, biographies, and essays, his writings explored themes of music, culture, and national identity, and were translated into multiple languages. Cordero y León received numerous awards, including the Fray Vicente Solano Decoration, and curated anthologies that highlighted the richness of Cuenca’s literary tradition.

Gertrudis de San Ildefonso

Sor Gertrudis de San Ildefonso (Quito, 1651 – Quito, January 29, 1709) was a revered Ecuadorian nun, mystic, and writer known for her role in promoting the cult of Nuestra Señora del Amparo in colonial Quito. Born Gertrudis Dávalos y Mendoza, she entered the Order of Saint Clare at seventeen, where she experienced mystical visions and helped unveil a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. A prolific writer of religious texts, including hymns and prayers, her work contributed to Quito’s artistic and spiritual heritage, and she was declared venerable for her devout life and lasting influence.