Among numerous contemporary writers, Carmen Boullosa occupies a specific place due to her fascinating use of metaphors and textual objects to convey deep underlying meanings. She is famous for many novels dedicated to the pressing problems of Mexican and American society. Still, she admitted in her interview that she had always preferred to be known as a poet finding “something sacred” in it (Bady, 2016). Her personal life also significantly influenced the character of her stories as she had left Mexico but remained emotionally, and sometimes painfully, connected to it (Bady, 2016). One of her latest masterpieces is a collection of short poems, Hamarita (o hacha), which includes the two texts suggested for review. Identifying their primary themes and language tools used to convey them is valuable for understanding various Boullosa’s ideas.
The first poem, “Axe,” is a short text consisting of only seven lines but provoking deep thoughts and ideas. To begin the review, it is necessary to consider the title and the particularity of its translation. The fact that the poem was originally written in Spanish allows looking at a slightly different angle at the meanings introduced in it. Its translator, Lawrence Schimel, noted a challenging issue arising in connection with the entire collection, and specifically with this text. It is the translation of the Spanish word “Hacha,” which can mean “Axe” or “Hatchet,” as well as “Torch” or “Candle” (Boullosa, 2017). The poet had the opportunity to leave the ambiguity in the original language, allowing the audience to decide what meaning would be the proper one. Therefore, in this case, translation led to a loss of one of Carmen’s significant aspects in her poem.
The discussion about the title provided above is essential for understanding the overall idea of the poem. Knowing the Spanish alternatives, it becomes clear that the author intended to use both meanings, which is supported by the line “we illuminate and cut” (Boullosa, 2017). In general, the poem conveys the idea of people’s power to change their lives and the destinies of those who surround them. It is also necessary to mention the slightly heroic and self-sacrificing tone of the text, in which Carmen compares herself and her fellows with “hatchets of steel and fire” (Boullosa, 2017). This metaphoric description deprives of any right to be emotional and requires strength and devotion to one’s goals. Moreover, the structure composed of short, simple sentences supports the noted feeling. Such an idea may be a reflection of Bolluosa’s own life and the stories of many other Mexicans. The hardships, which they have to face, play a significant role in her numerous novels. However, in this short poem, she manages to reveal the sense of these challenges and demonstrate the strength of people to overcome them.
The theme of facing problems and resisting to them changing one’s life forever is further addressed in the “Bermuda Triangle.” Again, the poem title defines the mood, which the author attempts to convey. The Bermuda Triangle is a symbol of hidden dangers for travelers, which are unforeseen, inexplicable, and irresistible. This is what many immigrants experienced upon entering their new land. However, this poem views the challenges at a slightly different angle, adding a significant personal aspect. It feels like a poem about losing a grip on oneself but gaining a whole new sense of independence instead. The structure represents a dynamic development of the personality, with the climax at a critically low emotional point seeming to be an irrecoverable loss (Boullosa, 2017). Still, it only leads to rising from the ashes, obtaining redemption, and therefore conquering the undefeatable Triangle.
The emotional transitions are largely supported by the tone and language used in the poem. The middle part is an example of Carmen’s fascinating use of “the silence of the white space” to reveal the ideas which are hard to explain with words (Bady, 2016). The lines containing only a few words create an image of despair and hopelessness, further completed with ellipses finishing this part. This changes when the decision to fight and survive is made. The sentences become more descriptive, seemingly persuading the author herself to go through the struggle. The story turns to a romantic perspective with the realization of love and husband’s support as the driving force to overcome the Triangle. The final line is also critical for understanding the poem. Metaphorically mentioning that she learns “to be a fish out of water,” Carmen emphasizes her ability to survive under the direst circumstances (Boullosa, 2017). This indicates the deep emotional transformations occurring to a person having to experience the hardships of such a life.
To conclude the discussion, it is worth mentioning that the poems are about self-discovery, learning to be capable of pursuing one’s values in any situation. Combined, they seem to supplement each other, reflecting two different aspects of this transformation. The “Bermuda Triangle” is a story of personal survival and growth, emphasizing the emotional part and internal motivation. The “Axe” is more inclined to showing others the way to redemption and becoming an example of proper values, even sacrificing one’s own life. This can be viewed as a continuation of one’s personal struggle and expansion of it towards the wider society. Such an approach was a guiding principle of Carmen Boullosa’s, who used all the talent and efforts pursuing the goal of helping her fellow citizens and drawing attention to their hardships.
References
Bady, A. (2016). The need of the forgotten. The Nation.
Boullosa, C. (2017). Three Poems. (L. Schimel, Trans.). Latin American Literature Today, 1(4).