834-1893), an erotic and
descriptive poet (_Obras_, Mex., 1899).

The most popular Mexican poets during the second half of
the nineteenth century have been Acuna, Flores, Peza and
Gutierrez Najera. A materialistic iconoclast, Manuel Acuna
(1849-1873) was uneven and incorrect in language, but
capable of deep poetic feeling. In his _Poesias_ (Garnier,
Paris, 8th ed.) there are two short poems that may live:
_Nocturno_, a passionate expression of disappointment
in love; and _Ante un cadaver_, a poem of dogmatic
materialism. Acuna committed suicide at the age of
twenty-four years. Manuel Maria Flores (1840-1885), an
erotic poet largely influenced by Musset, is very popular
in Mexico (_Pasionarias_, Paris, 1911). Probably the
most widely read poet of the period is Juan de Dios Peza
(1852-1910). His verses are often incorrect and weak, as
he improvised much; but they are interesting, as they
usually treat of homely topics (_Poesias completas: El
arpa del amor_, 1891; _Hogar y patria_, 1891; _Leyendas_,
1898; _Flores del alma; Recuerdos y esperanzas_, 1899,
Garnier, Paris). The romantic pessimist, Manuel Gutierrez
Najera (d. 1888), was tormented throughout life by the
vain quest of happiness and the thirst of truth. His
verses, which are often elegiac or fantastic, are highly
admired by the younger generation of Mexican poets. In
a letter to the writer of this article, Blanco-Fombona
praises Gutierrez Najera above all other Mexican poets
(_Poesias_, Paris, 1909, 2 vols.).

References: Menendez y Pelayo, _Ant. Poetas
Hisp.-Amer._, I, p. xiv f.: Blanco Garcia, III, 304
f.; Francisco Pimentel, _Historia critica de la page 313
poesia en Mexico_, Mex., 1892; _Biblioteca
hispano-americana septentrional_, D. Jose Mariano
Beristain de Souza, Mex., 1816-21, 3 vols. (has more
than 4000 titles),--reprinted by Fortino Hipolito de
Vera, Amecameca, 1883; _Bibliografia mexicana del
siglo XVI (catalogo razonado de los libros impresos
in Mexico de 1539 a 1600)_; _Biografias de mexicanos
distinguidos_, D. Francisco Sosa, Mex., 1884; _Poetas
yucatecos y tabasquenos_, D. Manuel Sanchez Marmol y
D. Alonso de Regil y Peon, Merida de Yucatan, 1861;
_Poetisas mexicanas_, Bogota, 1889; _Coleccion
de poesias mexicanas_, Paris, 1836; _El parnaso
mexicano_, 36 vols., R.B. Ortega, Mex., 1886;
_Biblioteca de autores mexicanos_, some 75 vols. to
1911, Mex.; _Antologi