The parrots by Ernesto Cardenal - does anyone have any analysis on this poem?

Answer 1

In a word: Imperialism. Check how many times the United States had invaded Nicaragua in the 19th century, how many dictatorships, bands of murderers and adventurers had been favored, supplied and aided by the US government in the 20th., all to deny the sovereignty and control of the Nicaraguans over their own land. In the 19th. century, the Americans wanted to build an Interoceanic canal (which was eventually built in Panama) in the 20th. to prevent democracy and deter any challenge to US-approved military despots that ruled the country in the interests of US multinational companies that wanted to exploit the Natural Resources of the country. Ernesto Cardenal was a product of that troubled history. He participated in the Revolution that unseated the dictator Anastasio Somoza and joined the revolutionary government. One of the many projects he was involved with was the poetry retreat at Solentiname where veterans of the war could recover. He used poetry and creative writing to heal the wounds that the ex-combatants bore. In this capacity, he also looked after the many victims of the illegal US-sponsored Contra war, many of whom had been deliberately crippled and blinded to put an economic burden on the revolutionary government. This experience is what colors the poetry and the man. The parrots are the Nicaraguans or other Latin Americans, forced into captivity in their own land and to speak another language for the amusement of their captors. It could just as easily refer to those forced to leave their countries to find work in the US or those left behind. The revolution frees them. They are then allowed to fly back to their jungle and lead their lives in liberty and to speak their own language. It also pays tribute to those that have died defending their own land from exploitation and the US jackboot. It is relevant today, given the involvement of the US in the illegal wars in Irag and Afghanistan and their use of torture, fear and counterinsurgency tactics designed to hurt civilian populations. Viva Sandino!

Answer 2

This poem is a polistical poem and freedom and imprisonment.

Line 6 & 7 'There were 186 parrots with 47 already dead in their cages' This is factual language that make human cruelty stand out, there is no need for emotive language because the facts alone are shocking.

The lst stanza is when the parrots become a methaphor for imprisoned humans who are looking for freemdom.

Answer 3

No!