He was born in Nueva Imperial, Cautín, 9th Region, on June 4, 1926, but spent most of his adult life in Santiago, Chile working as an academic.

His writings appeared first in the Anthology of the Generation of 1950, compiled by Enrique Lafourcade, a well-known Chilean writer.

The experience of living in Spain was fundamental to his writing, approaching him to his family roots and the intellectual world of Europe.

Prominent writers of this generation were Miguel Arteche, Enrique Lafourcade, Pablo Neruda, Vicente Huidobro, Humberto Díaz Casanueva, Rosamel del Valle, Jorge Edwards, Claudio Giaconi, et al.

These writers were influenced by authors such as Walt Whitman, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway.

Miguel Arteche also stated the Spanish Siglo de oro as one of his main influences.

El agua (the water), from Destierros y Tinieblas (Exiles and Darkness), 1963, is one of his most renowned poems; he had it in display hand-carved in wood at the entrance of his studio.

Me vio en el tiempo que yo fui, y en el seré la vi lejana, y ya no pude reclinar mi juventud sobre la almohada.

I saw me that night searching vents in vain; at home, and the world, no brothers, mum, friends.