Poesía Eras Tú

Best known for his many childrens books, including La peor señora del mundo ( The Worst Woman in the World, Fondo de Cultura Economica, 1992), Mexican author Hinojosa brings the humor, whimsy, and darkness that fill those stories to this book of poems. A missing pig, drugs, nudity, and foul play all come to bear before this love story is over. The title of the book refers to a famous line from Rima XXI by Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, when asked what poetry is, the narrator responds: Poesía … eres tú ( Poetry … is you ). The playful title is an indication of the irreverent poetry within. The epistolary poems are written by an amateur poet and pig farmer to his legislator girlfriend. The self-centered narrator sends his lover missives that he believes are keeping their failed relationship together. In fact, these love poems are petty and spiteful. His seeming earnestness is the glue that binds these poems together and brings a laugh at the end of every page. Hinojosa achieves the dark comedic effect by a well-timed undercutting of the language of bad love poems. For the full experience, read the poems in order in one sitting.–Salwa Jabado, New York City