Analisis Del Poema "Magdalena" De Emanuel Xavier

Malbert 1

Joseph Malbert
Intermediate English Writing II
Dr. Mary Sefranek
3 May, 2012
Magdalena’s Ironic Reality
Emanuel Xavier is a poet characterized for basing his writing on selfexperience. His
background reflects many controversial situations, facing both abuse and discrimination. In his
poem “Magdalena”, the poetic voice describes how the abuse he faced as a young gay individualis affecting his present. The tone divulged by the poet is one of sorrow and grief. However, a
close reading unveils a much more emotional vexation, suggest ing that the poet uses irony,
whichcompletely transforms the perception in the earlier attempt. “Magdalena” possesses
specific cues directing towards the use of irony: the employment of two dissimilar tones and the
choice of words. Thisevidence is present throughout the entire poem, although the first and
second stanzas are sufficient to confirm the use of this element. Xavier’s purpose for using irony
presents traumas hesuffered as a young LGBT 1 individual that have not yet been healed.
As I mentioned earlier, at first glance Xavier addresses the listener in a mournful tone,
directly revealing an attitude of remorse andpain t owards his mother. Inversely, reading between
the lines reveals a tone replete with anger, ironic in its totality. In the first stanza, the poem
commences as a childhood memory, almostnostalgic, promoting our first perception on tone.
“Mami/ I remember yo ur dyed blond hair/ your milky white / skin/ your really bad accent/ your

1

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,transsexual/transgender

Malbert 2

small stature/” (1-2)… In these verses, the poetic voice intends to convince the reader of his
melancholy as he remembers his mother, in detail, when he wasyoung. Shortly, the poem
follows verses carrying a different emotion: “…the violent / outbursts/ pointing out the negatives
in me/…/ the sound of your anger/ your fist / never too far away” (3...