Virgilio Dávila was a Puerto Rican

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

 poet

Poetry

Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...

, educator, politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 and businessman. He is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.

Early years

Dávila, born in the town of Toa Baja, was influenced by the literary collection of his parents, both of whom were teachers, at an early age. He attended private schools were he received both his primary and secondary education. Dávila earned his Bachelors degree from the Civil Institute of Higher Learning in 1895. He taught school in the town of Gurabo

Gurabo, Puerto Rico

Gurabo is a municipality in eastern Puerto Rico located in the central eastern region, north of San Lorenzo; south of Trujillo Alto; east of Caguas; and west of Carolina and Juncos. Gurabo is spread over 9 wards and Gurabo Pueblo...

.

Poet

Dávila and his wife had a son on October 7, 1898, José Antonio Dávila

José Antonio Dávila

Dr. José Antonio Dávila was a well-known poet during Puerto Rico's postmodern era of poetry.- Life and career :Dávila was born and raised in the City of Bayamon, Puerto Rico into a literary family...

, in the City of Bayamón

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...

, who would one day take after his father and become a well known poet himself. His experiences as a teacher and in agriculture created an immense love for his country which was later reflected in his poetry. In 1903, Dávila published his first book of poems "Patria". In this book he included poems which he wrote about Jose de Diego

José de Diego

José de Diego y Martínez , known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement", was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the United States....

, Federico Degetau

Federico Degetau

Federico Degetau y González, born in Ponce was a Puerto Rican politician, lawyer, writer, author, and the first Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to the United States House of Representatives.-Early years:...

 and Lola Rodríguez de Tió

Lola Rodríguez de Tio

Lola Rodríguez de TióThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name " Rodríguez" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Tió"., , was the first Puerto Rican born poetess to establish herself a reputation as a great poet throughout all of Latin America...

. He also included poems about the island and love in general. In 1904, Dávila became director of the weekly publication "Chantelier", which he co-founded with Braulio Dueño Colon

Braulio Dueño Colon

Braulio Dueño Colón was a Puerto Rican musician and composer.-Early years:Dueño was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At a young age Dueño's father, who also loved music, taught him the basics of music and served as his inspiration. Dueño took music classes with the "Maestro" Aruti, with whom he...

.

In 1905, Dávila ran for Mayor of the Municipality of Bayamon

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...

. He won the election and served as the municipality's mayor from 1905 to 1910.

Together with Dueño Colon and Manuel Fernandez Juncos

Manuel Fernández Juncos

Manuel Fernández Juncos was a Spanish journalist, poet, author and humanitarian who wrote the official lyrics to La Borinqueña, Puerto Rico's official anthem.-Early years:...

, he prepared a book of school songs. Dávila wrote many poems that were published in many publications and newspapers of the day. He also wrote a book for his grandchildren, titled A Book for my Grandchildren in 1928. Dávila style, considered traditional, was greatly influenced by Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo

Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....

.

Written works

Among his better known poems are:

• "Patria" (1903)
• "Viviendo y Amando" (1912)
• "Aromas del Terruño" (1916)
• "Nostalgia"
• "No des tu Tierra al Extaño".

The following is a short version of "No des tu Tierra al Extaño" ("Do not give your land to a stranger!"):

Spanish (original version)	English translation
¡No des tu tierra al extraño! por más que te pague bien.. el que su terruño vende! vende la Patria con él.	Do not give your land to a stranger! even though he pays you well.. He who sells his land! Is selling his homeland as well..

Later years

Dávila died in the City of Bayamón on August 22, 1943. He is buried in that city's Porta Coeli Cemetery. A public housing complex, a school, and an avenue in Bayamón bear the name of Dávila in his honor.

See also

• List of Puerto Rican writers
• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Puerto Rican literature

External links

• El Nuevo Dia