Poem Analysis - It Would Be Neat If With The New Year

Jimmy Santiago Baca's poem "It Would Be Neat If With The New Year" presents a reflective and somewhat melancholic tone, exploring themes of loneliness, resilience, and personal history. The speaker's contemplation of leaving behind loneliness with the old year sets a hopeful yet introspective mood. As the poem progresses, the tone shifts to one of acceptance and even appreciation for the hardships and experiences that have shaped the speaker's life.

Themes of Loneliness and Resilience

The poem delves deeply into the theme of loneliness, which is personified as an old pair of work boots. The speaker's loneliness is described as leathery and worn, suggesting a long-standing and enduring presence in his life. This imagery of the boots being vigorously chewed on by the dog symbolizes the speaker's attempts to escape or overcome his loneliness, but also the futility of these efforts. The boots, despite their worn condition, are a constant companion, much like the speaker's loneliness. The speaker's happiness is intertwined with these boots, indicating that his experiences, both good and bad, have shaped his identity and resilience. The boots represent the speaker's journey, including the wrong roads taken and the struggles faced, but also the strength and endurance gained from these experiences.

The Symbolism of the Boots

The boots serve as a powerful symbol throughout the poem. They represent the speaker's past, his struggles, and his resilience. The boots are scuffed, tooth-marked, and worn-soled, reflecting the hardships and challenges the speaker has endured. Despite their worn condition, the boots fit well and are needed, especially when the speaker loves hard and ventures into difficult terrains. This suggests that the speaker's experiences, though painful, have made him stronger and more capable of navigating life's challenges. The boots also symbolize the speaker's connection to his cultural heritage, as seen in his appreciation for the Mexican corrido and the singer's wails of pain. The boots rocking back and forth to the beat of the song indicate the speaker's deep understanding and acceptance of his past experiences and the pain they represent.

The Journey of Acceptance

The poem concludes with a sense of acceptance and even appreciation for the speaker's past experiences. The boots, though worn and battered, are kept because they fit well and are needed. This suggests that the speaker has come to accept his past and the struggles it represents, and has found a way to integrate these experiences into his identity. The final lines of the poem, where the speaker loves so hard and ventures up boulder-strewn trails, indicate a sense of determination and resilience. The flowers that crack rocks in their defiant love for the light serve as a metaphor for the speaker's own defiance and resilience in the face of adversity. The poem ultimately suggests that the speaker's past experiences, though painful, have made him stronger and more capable of navigating life's challenges.