La Vuelta de Martín Fierro

by José Hernández

"La Vuelta de Martín Fierro" by José Hernández is a gauchesque poem written in 1879. This sequel finds the once-rebellious outlaw gaucho transformed into a more reflective figure. After fleeing to live among indigenous peoples, Martín Fierro returns to civilization and reunites with his sons. The work shifts focus to the next generation, featuring the famous payada contest and Fierro's immortal advice to his children. Seven years separate this from its predecessor, revealing changes in both character and author.