The poem “My Spanish” by Melissa Lozada-Olivia brings into life “Spanish” as more than a language. From my personal view, I interpreted the poem as full of emotions and very attached to the author’s heritage. Spanish is not only a language, it goes beyond that. She portrays Spanish as a living being who at the same time has grown up with her and has accompanied her during her life journey. Yet, this companion becomes distant with time and the bond between her Spanish and her seems to be getting weak since Spanish is becoming a memory of a painful past of her parents. Therefore, I believe she expresses Spanish as an identity that is becoming a shadow, yet, this shadow will never abandon her fully because her heritage cannot be erased. I found beautiful the fact that Melissa gives personification to Spanish to emphasize her roots and how relevant in her life it became. Personally, I found very touching the way she gave life to it, addressing it as if Spanish was a living being. In addition, the emotions were so powerful and moving. All her poem is very rich in metaphors that offer even more symbolisms and representations of “Spanish” beyond limits. Overall, I think “My Spanish” is a powerful poem carried with deep emotions.
These are such beautiful reflections, Maria. I completely agree, and on a recent rereading I noticed that, in addition to Spanish language, there are also cultural and familial “languages” in the text that I hadn’t attuned to the first times I heard/read it. Your characterization of Lozada-Oliva’s Spanish as a shadow is particularly poignant. That imagery is striking since a shadow can be more or less present depending on one’s position to light, and, based on my own experience with Spanish fluency (I’m much more fluent when I’m in a Spanish-speaking country or using Spanish on a regular basis), the metaphor of a longer or shorter shadow really resonates with me. I imagine Lozada-Oliva would find your analogy to the shadow persuasive 🙂
Hi Maria,
Interesting perspective on Lozada-Oliva’s Spanish acting as a shadow. The personification she gives to her Spanish – the idea that it is something that can wonder, experience hunger, and reach – really helps to establish it as not just a language and/or way of communicating, but something that she always carries with her. It is also interesting that it seems it is specifically connected with her heritage, her family, and certain memories; I think this makes her Spanish feel less neutral (i.e., like a way of communicating) and more like something that has personality and character.