The title LA MIGRA is a Mexican slang for the U.S. border cops. It is in Spanish because the poem is concerned for the people migrating from Mexico to U.S. having their native
language Spanish.
The poem is divided into two stanzas because it is expressing point of view of two characters of poem. In first stanza it states expression of la Migra (U.S. border cops) and in second stanza it states expressions of Women who sing a praise song to her Mexican roots.
In stanza 1, la Migra says that he won''t let the women to cross the border and will stop by using all means - symbolically he mentions badge - meaning an authority from state, and sunglasses means ability to watch her in desert. Jeep means their ability to move fast in desert. Boots kicks and handcuffs means that they have legal protection from doing anything with such border crossing immigrants and gun means they can even shoot them on the spot if they wish.
In stanza 2, Spanish
woman says that no matter you (la Migra) have resources but I have roots in desert and I know where is the hiding places - when to travel in the desert and when not to travel in the desert Where
water is available and how the winds signals for change in weather - symbolically she says that la Migra don''t understand Spanish meaning do not understand the desert and she knows it better as she speaks Spanish. The style of poem is to mention both characters point of views otherwise poem might be a single sided and over all effect of the poem could not be heart touching.
The effect of using symbol of
children playing a game is an attempt to remove effects of the legality of the theme discussed in the poem i.e. illegal border crossing from immigrants and the methods used by border cops to stop such activities. The purpose of presenting children playing a game is to portrait the innocence of immigrants and the duty of border cops but by using symbols - poet has expressed so much and mentioned what usually happens in border with such illegal immigrants.
The poem is in dialogue format between the two confronting characters - in Stanza 1, la Migra expresses his words for what he has to deal with her and in stanza 2, woman replies and says how she can beat him in his own game.
Although poem is full of irony examples but "You can hide and run, but you can’t get away because I have a jeep. I can take you wherever I want," is an excellent example of sense of superiority expressed by la Migra over poor Mexican woman.
The Chicano writers have much said about the immigrant experience as their parents and grandparents experienced it. Pat Mora is an essential reading for anyone interested in the history of immigration to America, a history shot through with ambivalence, tragedy, prejudice, endurance, and success -- a fascinating range of stories. Authorities like the Border Patrol, and the Immigration Service (La Migra) are seen differently by Anglo and Mexican Americans.
For those who don''t know, the Spanish in this poem reads "sweet water springs here, here, here" Poet does on the most basic level that requires only dictionary translating for understanding. The purpose of using Spanish words is to strengthen the
feelings of Woman how much deep roots she has with dessert.
Short lines in poetry are always a good mean of expressions. They touch the heart and easily fit in mind of reader. Since in the poem, two characters are talking - short lines give an expression of dialogue between them although they are not standing in front of each other.
"Oh, and a gun" symbolically showing that la Migra has authority from state to shoot the immigrants crossing the border illegally and he is expressing his power and telling other character that he may shoot her as well.
"You hear us singing and laughing with the wind, aqua dulce brota aqui, aqui, aqui, but since you can’t speak Spanish, You do not understand. Get ready". The last line expresses the woman''s reo the desert and telling that she is fully aware of desert - she know its wind and can know how the desert is going to change in few hours but you (la Migra) is not familiar with desert although you have all resources but do not understand desert language (which she say Spanish). You don''t know where water is - you think mirage - water but it is nothing but you don''t know as you don''t speak Spanish. Get Ready means, may be you escape or you should be ready to die in desert.
The poem basically deals with the
human feelings and do not convey the whole truth about the matter of immigration from border as this matter has many dimensions. From poetry point of view it''s a good attempt to show the human feelings from different point of view but as a whole - it does not cover the matter and does not provide the whole scenario of this human problem.
More summaries about the Let''s play la migra