Into Death Bravely by Jimmy Santiago Baca

 

The poet Jimmy Santiago shares with his audience, an amazing description of the winter season through his poem Into Death Bravely. His use of Imagery and Personification enables the reader to get a clear and vivid illustration of the winter and its effects. In this poem the winter can be pictured as a warrior or soldier conquering in battle over its adversaries. This idea is substantiated in the lines: "winter throws his great white shield/on the ground, /breaking thin arms of twisting branches" (1-4). The great white shield is metaphorical description of the snow. This quotation also shows that the poet isn't only applying human traits and characteristics to the winter but also to the branches as well: “breaking thin arms of twisting branches." The word twisting also implies like the branches are in pain. The narrator then goes on to say that the winter "howls" a deep throaty laugh (5-6). In this line, the poet may be describing how the wind sounds during the winter, when it’s cold with snow everywhere.  Santiago then highlights the negative outcomes of the wind. He mentions that because of the wind, the cattle had to be sold maybe because there is basically nothing for the cows to eat as he says, the cattle would rake the snow for stubble. In other words, the animals suffered likewise because of the scarcity of food as a result of the winter.

Santiago then describes how the winter ends. He states: “Having lived his whole life/in a few weeks, /slow and pensive he walks away.” This line suggests that the winter seem like a man that leaves only after he is contented with the damage that he is done. However he leaves slow, taking his time, like he is brooding or strolling while deep in thought. The winter is definitely in no a rush to leave. While the winter is leaving, his elements such as the snow are slowly fading but still present: “dragging his silver-stream shield/down branches /and over the ground.” The poet then goes on to describe the winter as a man going bravely into his death. When he says: “he keeps walking slowly away/into death /bravely,” he is portraying winter‘s end like a man dying a slow and courageous death. This poem generally describes the winter and how strong its effect can be. It is like a warrior. Throughout the poem the elements of nature is also explored in a very insightful way.