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Baca, Jimmy Santiago. Winter poems along the Rio Grande.


BACA Baca (bā`kə), in the Bible, allegorical name of a valley. The English expression "vale (or valley) of tears" may be a translation of this, through the Vulgate. , Jimmy Santiago. Winter poems along the Rio Grande Rio Grande, city, Brazil
Rio Grande (rē` grän`dĭ), city (1991 pop.
. New Directions. 101p. c2004. 0-8112-1575-X. $12.95. SA

This collection accurately reflects the state of American confessional poetry with both the positive and negative implications of that genre. Highly personal, for example, in its proclamations of love, it encourages an intimacy and empathy with the author in a compelling way. "I cannot sleep on my left side because it is where I turned / when you slept next to me but you are not there now."

The world of these poems is common and familiar. "It would be neat if with the New Year / I could leave my loneliness behind ... / My leathery leath·er·y  
adj.
Having the texture or appearance of leather: a leathery face.



leather·i·ness n.
 loneliness an old pair of workboots ..." Yet Baca embraces life and the moment with joy. "I hailed the wind as savior, reached up and / honored with / both arms / the elm, cedar, and mesquite Mesquite, city, United States
Mesquite (məskēt`), city (1990 pop. 101,484), Dallas co., N Tex., a suburb of Dallas; inc. 1887. Manufacturing includes industrial power supplies, building materials, and medical equipment.
 trees that seldom / gave their voices to me but always, always / patiently / listened ..." Here is a respect for nature that seems rooted in Baca's heritage while serving as his inspiration. "I am not sure if my prayers / spring from the dormant frost chilled fields / or if they come from the river's water ..."

For those who seek an uplifting populist voice, one in tune with nature and rejecting the materialism materialism, in philosophy, a widely held system of thought that explains the nature of the world as entirely dependent on matter, the fundamental and final reality beyond which nothing need be sought.  of our commercial culture, this will prove a worthwhile experience. James Beschta, Barre Barre (bă`rē), city (1990 pop. 9,482), Washington co., central Vt., SE of Montpelier; settled late 18th cent., inc. 1894. Granite quarrying, which began in the region in the early 19th cent., is still important. , MA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code help librarian and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.
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Author:Beschta, James
Publication:Kliatt
Article Type:Book Review
Date:Mar 1, 2005
Words:266
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