We celebrate Jose Marti's Birthday Today 28th January 2013

[RM]

Courtesy of http://www.poemhunter.com/jose-marti/biography/

"José Julián Martí Pérez (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895) was a Cuban
national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In
his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a
revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and
a political theorist. Through his writings and political activity, he
became a symbol for Cuba's bid for independence against Spain in the
19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban
Independence." He also fought against the threat of United States
expansionism into Cuba. From adolescence, he dedicated his life to the
promotion of liberty, political independence for Cuba and intellectual
independence for all Spanish Americans; his murder was used as a cry
for Cuban independence from Spain by both the Cuban revolutionaries
and those Cubans previously reluctant to start a revolt.

Born in Havana, Martí began his political activism at a young age. He
would travel extensively in Spain, Latin America, and the United
States raising awareness and support for the cause of Cuban
independence. His unification of the Cuban émigré community,
particularly in Florida, was crucial to the success of the Cuban War
of Independence against Spain. He was a key figure in the planning and
execution of this war, as well as the designer of the Cuban
Revolutionary Party and its ideology. He died in military action on
May 19, 1895.

Martí is considered one of the great turn-of-the-century Latin
American intellectuals. His written works consist of a series of
poems, essays, letters, lectures, a novel, and even a children's
magazine. He wrote for numerous Latin American and American
newspapers; he also founded a number of newspapers himself. His
newspaper Patria was a key instrument in his campaign for Cuban
independence. After his death, one of his poems from the book, "Versos
Sencillos" (Simple Verses) was adapted to the song, "Guantanamera,"
which has become the definitive patriotic song of Cuba.

The concepts of freedom, liberty, and democracy are prominent themes
in all of his works, which were influential on the Nicaraguan poet,
Rubén Darío and the Chilean poet, Gabriela Mistral.

Martí's style of writing is difficult to categorize. He used many
aphorisms - short, memorable lines that convey truth and/or wisdom -
and long complex sentences. He is considered a major contributor to
the Spanish American literary movement known as Modernismo and has
been linked to Latin American consciousness of the modern age and
modernity. His chronicles combined elements of literary portraiture,
dramatic narration, and a dioramic scope. His poetry contained "fresh
and astonishing images along with deceptively simple sentiments". As
an orator (for he made many speeches) he was known for his cascading
structure, powerful aphorisms, and detailed descriptions. More
important than his style is how he uses that style to put into service
his ideas, making "advanced" convincing notions. Throughout his
writing he made reference to historical figures and events, and used
constant allusions to literature, current news and cultural matters.
For this reason, he may be difficult to read and translate.

His didactic spirit encouraged him to establish a magazine for
children, La Edad de Oro (1889) which contained a short essay titled
"Tres Heroes" (three heroes), representative of his talent to adapt
his expression to his audience; in this case, to make the young reader
conscious of and amazed by the extraordinary bravery of the three men,
Bolivar, Hidalgo, and San Martín. This is his style to teach
delightfully.

Jose Marti's Works:

1869 January – Abdala
1869 January – "10 de octubre"
1871 – El presidio político en Cuba
1873 – La República Española ante la revolución cubana
1875 – Amor con amor se paga
1882 – Ismaelillo
1882 February – Ryan vs. Sullivan
1882 February – Un incendio
1882 July – El ajusticiamiento de Guiteau
1883 January – "Batallas de la Paz"
1883 March – " Que son graneros humanos"
1883 March – Karl Marx ha muerto
1883 March –El Puente de Brooklyn
1883 September– "En Coney Island se vacia New York"
1883 December –" Los Politicos de oficio"*1883 December –"Bufalo Bil"
1884 April –"Los Caminadores"
1884 November – Norteamericanos
1884 November –El juego de pelota de pies
1885 – Amistad Funesta
1885 January –Teatro en Nueva York
1885 March – "Una gran rosa de bronce encendida"
1885 March –Los fundadores de la constitucion
1885 June – "Somos pueblo original"
1885 August – "Los politicos tiene sus pugiles"
1886 May – Las revueltas anarquistas de Chicago
1886 September – " La ensenanza"
1886 October – "La Estatua de la Libertad"
1887 April – El poeta Walt Whitman
1887 April – El Madison Squar
1887 November – Ejecucion de los dirigentes anarquistas de Chicago
1887 November – La gran nevada
1888 May – El ferrocarril elevado
1888 August – Verano en Nueva York
1888 November – " Ojos abiertos, y gargantas secas"
1888 November – "Amanece y ya es fragor"
1889 – 'La edad de oro'
1889 May – El centenario de George Washington
1889 July – Banistas
1889 August – "Nube Roja"
1889 September – "La caza de negros"
1890 November– " El jardin de las orquideas"
1891 October –Versos Sencillos
1891 January – "Nuestra America"
1894 January – " A Cuba!"
1895 –Manifiesto de Montecristi- coautor con Máximo Gómez