Juan Antonio Corretjer

Juan Antonio Corretjer (1908-1985) was one of Puerto Rico's greatest poets and a lifelong independence activist. Born in Ciales, he joined the Nationalist Party as a young man and served as secretary to Pedro Albizu Campos. He was imprisoned alongside Albizu Campos in 1936 for conspiracy against the United States.

Corretjer's poetry combined lyrical beauty with fierce political commitment. His works celebrated Puerto Rican identity, Taíno heritage, the jíbaro tradition, and the struggle for independence. His most famous poem, "Oubao-Moin" (named after the indigenous Arawak name for Puerto Rico's neighbor island of Vieques), explored themes of colonialism and resistance.

After his release from prison, Corretjer continued his independence advocacy, founding the Liga Socialista Puertorriqueña in 1962. His home in Ciales became a gathering place for independence activists and intellectuals. His poem "En la Vida Todo es Ir" became a anthem of the independence movement.

Corretjer represents the intersection of art and resistance in Puerto Rican culture — the tradition of the poet-revolutionary that stretches from Betances through Albizu Campos.