The poetry “Second Attempt Crossing” by Zamora Javier is a lyric that discusses immigration and the experiences of individuals to tend to move beyond the border. However, the poem takes its setting on the border of the United States and Mexico. Whereby the speaker and Chino attempt to cross the border illegally. The lyric’s setting is characterized by danger and hostility since the immigrants encounter threats of being caught by the La Migra and face other perils throughout the journey. The paper will discuss the theme of desperation and dangers, its importance, and how the poet has used figurative language to enhance it.
Consequently, the poem posits the theme of desperation and dangers that are associated with illegal immigration that took place across the borders of Mexico-United States. The poet asserts, “It was then the gun ready to press its index” (Zamora, line 9). The phrase illustrates the challenges and risks the speaker and Chino encounters as they cross the borders. Desperation in the lyric is depicted when the immigrants are forced to migrate despite their harsh conditions. For example, fear of being caught by the desert hangs and patrol agents. Also, the immigrants were ready to sustain the high temperatures across the desert. Dangers, as the poem’s primary message, are evident when the immigrants are exposed to thirst, treacherous terrain, and gang threats. The I migrants did not bother about what they could face since their mission was to move to a new place to access a better life.
The theme of desperation and dangers highlighted by the author is crucial because it reflects on the unbearable difficulties that most immigrants face. However, the theme significantly sheds light on the lives of immigrants who immensely encounter challenges as they cross borders. The theme of dangers and desperation reflects on the contemporary world as to why immigration occurs frequently. The author attempts to justify how immigrants are forced to withstand the harsh conditions since they seek better lives in new places (Zamora). The theme of danger and desperation uncovers the harrowing journey that most immigrants across the globe undergo. As such, it shows a need for compassion and a greater understanding of the immigrants regarding the challenges they normally face. The exploration of the theme of danger and desperation is crucial because it aids in dispelling dangerous stereotypes and myths that people have toward immigrants. Therefore, the theme is essential in a broader scope purposely for creating empathy, support, and understanding for the immigrants.
The poet has vividly used figurative language to develop the theme of desperation and danger in the poetry. The author uses the phrase” Second Attempt Crossing” as a metaphor to illustrate on multiple times the immigrants are subjected to as they cross the border (Zamora). The figurative language shows how immigrants must be determined and persistent to get a better life. Repetition is another figurative language whereby the author repeatedly uses the word” Chino” to indicate that this person is most likely important to the speaker (lines 10-14). The repetition brings about a sense of relationship and empathy and posits the essence of friendship and loyalty in migration.
In conclusion, the poem “Second Attempt Crossing” is a poem that is important to all people, especially in the contemporary world. The author attempts to precisely justify the difficulties that immigrants always encounter as they move to new places to seek refuge. The poem is captivating, powerful, and fascinating in various ways. For example, the author uses concise language that is easy to understand. Metaphors have been used in the poem to allow the author to convey emotions, significant ideas, and elements crucial to the audience. Therefore, the author uses figurative language to enhance the theme of desperation and danger and, generally, to capture the audience’s attention. To recap, the poet highlights the essence of understanding immigrants’ challenges to build empathy and eliminate stereotyping.
Works Cited
Zamora, Javier. Second Attempt Crossing. 2016, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/90978/second-attempt-crossing.
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