Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Like You," translated by Jack Hirschman, stands as one of Roque Dalton's seminal works, embodying both his poetic vision and ideological stance. Dalton, a revolutionary poet from El Salvador, often engaged with themes of love, struggle, and shared humanity, and this poem crystallizes these preoccupations elegantly.

The poem opens with a declaration of love for life and its minutiae: "love, life, the sweet smell / of things, the sky-blue / landscape of January days." Dalton emphasizes his relish for life's simplicities, setting the stage for the poem's broader thematic scope. He's not just an observer of beauty; he is a participant in the world's loveliness.

As we delve into the poem, Dalton speaks of his "blood" boiling and laughing through "eyes / that have known the buds of tears." These lInesreveal a deeper emotional landscape - the poet isn't just a blissful observer but a man acquainted with sorrow and struggle. His is a joy hard-won, lending credibility and depth to his initial assertions.

Dalton then comes to the crux of his philosophy: "I believe the world is beautiful / and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone." In equating poetry with bread, he argues for the democratization of art and beauty. Art isn't a luxury but a necessity, akin to bread, that should be accessible to all. This view aligns with Dalton's Marxist ideology, emphasizing collective ownership not only of resources but also of cultural and emotional experiences.

The concluding lInesof the poem serve as an anthem for solidarity: "And that my veins don't end in me / but in the unanimous blood / of those who struggle for life, / love, / little things, / landscape and bread, / the poetry of everyone." Dalton presents himself as part of a larger whole, interconnected with those who "struggle for life." His veins, both literal and metaphorical conduits of life, extend into the "unanimous blood" of collective human striving.

"Like You" is grounded in both its historical and cultural contexts. Dalton wrote against the backdrop of social and political unrest, where the struggle for "life, love, little things" was not just poetic metaphor but stark reality. It evokes the ethos of social movements that seek basic dignities - life, love, and bread - affirming these not as individual but communal aspirations. This sense of shared struggle and hope defInesthe poem, making it not just a personal statement but a collective one.

In sum, Roque Dalton's "Like You" is a profound ode to the simple joys and complex struggles that define human experience. It is an assertion of shared humanity, a cry for the democratization of beauty, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The poem achieves all this with an economy of words but a richness of meaning, making it a compelling read that resonates on multiple levels.

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