A poet’s heart beats within these walls. Baldomero Fernández Moreno lived a life split between medicine and verse. Here, we celebrate Baldomero Fernández Moreno. He was not just a poet. He was also a rural doctor. He immortalized Buenos Aires’ neighborhoods. His words captured the calm of the Argentinian provinces. Baldomero Fernández Moreno was a walking poet. He strolled the city. He transformed it into poetry.
Baldomero Fernández Moreno was born in Buenos Aires. The date was November 15, 1886. His birthplace was the Montserrat neighborhood. His father, Baldomero Fernández, was a Spanish merchant. His mother, Amelia Moreno, was also Spanish.
In 1892 the family journeyed to Bárcena de Cicero in Spain. His father returned to Buenos Aires in 1897. Baldomero lived in Madrid with relatives from 1898 to 1899. Later, he sailed from Barcelona to Buenos Aires. He met his father and uncle in Montevideo. His uncle Avelino Gutiérrez was a surgeon. He was also a professor at the University of Buenos Aires.
Baldomero attended the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. He graduated from there. Later, he dedicated a poem to it. In those years, he began writing poetry. Avelino Gutiérrez inspired him. So did the Spanish doctor José María Carrera. In 1904 Baldomero entered the Faculty of Medicine. He was only seventeen.
In 1912 Baldomero Fernández Moreno earned his doctorate. His thesis focused on treating tuberculous fistulas and arthritis. That same year, he settled in Chascomús. There, he practiced medicine. The poet Belisario Roldán visited him. He recommended Baldomero to Fernando Álvarez. Álvarez directed the magazine Caras y Caretas. However, the magazine did not publish Baldomero’s poems. Two years later, Baldomero moved to Catriló. This town was in La Pampa province.
After a few months, Baldomero returned to Buenos Aires. He continued writing. He also worked as a doctor in Floresta. In 1915 he published his first book. It was titled Las iniciales del misal. He dedicated it to Rubén Darío. In 1917 he briefly lived in Huanguelén. It was in Buenos Aires province.
Baldomero married Dalmira del Carmen López de Osornio in 1919. People called her Negrita. They settled in Huanguelén. His first son, César, was born that year. César inspired his book El hijo. In 1920 he returned to Buenos Aires. He worked at the Hospital Español. In 1924 he left medicine. He devoted himself to poetry.
Baldomero became a professor of literature. He taught at the Colegio Nacional Mariano Moreno. He also taught history. His book Romance a mis chapas de médico was published in 1936.
In 1937 his son Ariel died. This plunged him into depression. His book Penumbra reflects this. In 1938 he won the National Poetry Prize.
Baldomero Fernández Moreno suffered a stroke in 1949. He died on June 7, 1950. His home was on Francisco Bilbao Street. He was buried in Chascomús.
A street in Buenos Aires bears his name. So does a train station. A school where he taught also carries his name. His poetry explored both city and country life. Jorge Luis Borges admired Baldomero’s urban and rural vision. Mario Benedetti considered him a mentor. Baldomero Fernández Moreno captured Argentina in verse.