Alfonsina Storni: Myths and facts surrounding the poet's death

Eighty-eight years after the death of Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni in 1938, historical accounts and local myths continue to shape the narrative of her passing. Contrary to popular belief and musical depictions, Storni did not walk slowly into the sea; evidence suggests she jumped from a pier at La Perla beach in Mar del Plata, an event marked by physical struggle rather than solemnity.

Storni’s death was driven by terminal illness rather than mysterious anguish. Having suffered from cancer and undergoing surgery in 1935, she informed her son, Alejandro, that her symptoms had returned and she would not undergo further medical intervention. Before her death, she wrote her final poem, ‘Voy a dormir’, which was published in La Nación.

Her memorial, inaugurated in 1948 and funded by friends including Benito Quinquela Martín, has also been subject to misconceptions. The monument, created by sculptor Luis Perlotti, does not feature a central figure representing Storni, but rather symbolic artistry. The monument was also relocated from its original position to its current site, losing its original marble pedestal in the process.