Portrait of Breath as Stanzaic Lines
Lourdes Figueroa’s Vuelta is all about the breath. In the collection’s introduction, she establishes breath as the foundation of language which she uses to paint experiences of her life. Figueroa uses breath to move the poem along, especially in “Slumber”, where she uses deliberate placements of punctuation and enjambment to align the reader with Figueroa’s intent, that breath is the base and the heart of this collection.
At a glance, the poem is interesting visually. Figueroa does not keep her lines at a uniform length, but rather sets up each line to create more impact. Breath is the base of language, and language is the base for storytelling. And in keeping with storytelling, the poem begins as one with its “for a while” feeling like the poem’s version of “once upon a time.” The decision to keep this line together with the comma, as opposed to adding an enjambment, creating an emphasis on the word “drunk”, which keeps the reader hooked on this story she’s telling.
Even with a line as short as two words, “i slur”, the reader can’t help but let their lips pucker at reading this line, which segues perfectly into the next line: “listen/ how puckered lips /sucking on plums.” The lack of punctuation leading into “i slur” makes for a soothing voice, as if coaxing us to sleep, adding to that bedtime story quality.
The inclusion of the backslashes add an abruptness to the line. The breath adds life to this bedtime story: often, stories are not told without interjections or exclamations to one’s audience. The backslash after “listen” is akin to a finger snap to the reader beckoning them to listen and pay attention. The backslash is a stage direction and redirects the reader to the “sound of the angels’ wings.”
The breath enters the storyteller tone again with the length of “just as the mumbling of brown speckled doves arriving on a window sill / after a long batch of rain.” The rest of the poem enters a rhythm to emphasize the imagery of the following lines. Breath is the base of language, language is the base for storytelling, and as the poem continues, the reader is reminded that storytelling is the base for survival, for life. The reader is with the speaker of the poem through their drunkenness, angels, and rain. And just like a good story, the reader is immersed in the story. The story distracts the speaker, and also the reader, from reality until the speaker reveals that the story is being told from a migrant camp. The description of the poet earlier, “meaningless”, now makes sense. The poet “becoming bitter” makes sense. What can a poet do to improve their family’s survival? Their own survival? All the poet has is their story, which is their language, and their breath. This breath is defiance. The breath is life, and this story is the “meaningless” poet’s call to life.
Now that the reader is here, the speaker of the poem asks the reader to breathe with them. See this reality with them. The italicized lines are the breath in a frantic whisper. This is the truth of their pain. The breath guides the reader to the truth. It asks to sit in this truth with them.