Poema para los Californios Muertos

Lorna Dee Cervantes’ poem entitled Poema para los Californios Muertos is an interesting and insightful glimpse into the consciousness of a bitter and resentful descendent of Hispanic Latin Americans. As she observes a plaque that tells of her ancestors’ refuge from white Americans in a land that was once their own, our narrator is filled with rage and curses the very heart of the unnatural modern society that was ultimately victorious over her fore-fathers.

There were many aspects of this poem’s approach and delivery that I admire, but two stand out before all the rest after my read-throughs. The first is the use of the Spanish words and phrases spread throughout the length of the poem, which I view as a shrewd choice considering that sometimes the Spanish is able to express sentiments that would not be as effective if written in English. The second of the two aspects is the uniqueness of the images that the author/narrator offers up: “[the shrieking blue jay] above the pungent odor of crushed eucalyptus and the pure scent of rage…” is just one of many examples. A combination of these two factors helps to make Cervantes' "Poema" one of the most memorable works included in chapter 5.