Desiderio Macías Silva (March 31, 1922 – February 1995) was a Mexican poet and medical doctor born in Asientos,

Aguascalientes Aguascalientes, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Aguascalientes, is one of the 32 states which comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. At 22°N and with an average altitude of above sea level it is pre ...

. He served as president of the

Autonomous University of Aguascalientes The Autonomous University of Aguascalientes (in ) is a Mexican public university based in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. The Autonomous University of Aguascalientes has several campuses that are located across the state. The university wa ...

Biography and career

After a rural childhood in semi-deserted landscapes, Macías Silva went to study to the Conciliar Seminar of Aguascalientes. Afterwards he moved to

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

, where he studied Medicine at the

National Autonomous University of Mexico The National Autonomous University of Mexico (, UNAM) is a public university, public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countri ...

, known as UNAM. Here he joined the cultural association Netzahualcoyotl, where he published poetry in the journal ''Espiral'', among many others. Back in Aguascalientes, he participated in the literary group Paralelo and was awarded the first prize in the Juegos Florales contest, prize that he was awarded again in 1972 for his book ''Ascuario'', when this award became the prestigious National Poetry Prize Aguascalientes. He was a professor at the

, he was the creator of the motto of this university: "Se lumen proferre" and was also the President of the university for many years. The '' Biblioteca Central'' (Central Library) of the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes was named after him in 2013. An international poetry prize, the ''Premio Internacional de Poesía "Desiderio Macías Silva"'' is named after him.

Works of poetry

* ''Ascuario'' (Joaquín Mortiz, Mexico, 1973) *''Poemas'' (Oasis, Mexico, 1983 - Includes Ascuario, Jaspe y Sardónix, Pentagrazul, y Paraskeví) *''Jaspe y Sardónix'' (Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Mexico, 1985) *''Pentagrazul'' (Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Mexico, 1989 - Includes Ascuario, Pentagrazul, Jaspe y Sardónix, y Relámpagos la sangre) *''Pentagrazul'' (Verbum, Madrid, 1993) *''Apocatástasis'' (Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Mexico, 1994 - Includes Icosaedro, Relámpagos la sangre, y Jaspe y Sardónix)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macias Silva, Desiderio 1922 births 1995 deaths People from Asientos Municipality Mexican male poets 20th-century Mexican poets 20th-century Mexican male writers National Autonomous University of Mexico alumni Academic staff of the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes