The Certainty of Spring; Poems by a Guatemalan in Exile

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"At a distance, / I run with those who are running," Esquivel ( Threatened with Resurrection ) begins one poem in this bilingual volume. Because her "exile" status permits her to speak freely, her vision lacks the stunning metaphors that have been encoded in the works of many Latin American writers. These poems are not only prosaic and rhetorical, they are weighed down by footnotes explaining dates, places, names. Attempts to relate the Guatemalan struggles to that of all so-called oppressed peoples (including South Africans, Vietnamese and Palestinians) ring false. Cliches pile up: "Indian child, delicate sprig of violet / with your breath sustaining / our poor faith / in the sunshine of Justice." Esquivel often obscures the indigenous Indian culture in favor of Catholicism. And she comes incredibly close to proselytizing at times: "If Christians / really believed / that we are one single Body, / that of the Risen Christ / how many situations we could change!" Much as one respects the Guatemalan fight for independence, these poems are difficult to identify with.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This bilingual collection of poems by a Guatemalan poet and activist living in exile is a powerful indictment of the forces that have destroyed her country, as well as a statement of Christian faith and hope in the future. Divided into four thematic sections, the poems focus on political concerns, poverty, solidarity, and faith. The author's roles as a theologian and human rights activist are apparent throughout her intensely passionate work. Although she focuses on her native country, she transcends this preoccupation, touching upon the universality of the struggle of all people for dignity and freedom from oppression. One particularly poignant poem, "All Guatemala Is a Rigoberta Menchu," expresses outrage against the condition of the indigenous population, who suffer even more than those of mixed heritage. Their cause was championed by Menchu, who won the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize. This collection should be considered for Latin American poetry collections and wherever there is an interest in Central American politics.
- Mary Ellen Beck, Troy P.L., N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.