Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Andaluz: 5. Street Song: Malaga," by Ben Belitt, captures the vibrancy and complexity of a moment on Paseo del Limonar, a street in Malaga, through the lens of young schoolgirls waiting amidst the daily bustle. The poem is a vivid portrayal of youth poised on the brink of maturity, set against the backdrop of a city alive with the rhythms of everyday life.

The opening lines paint a picture of innocence and anticipation, with schoolgirls "with lockets and fans" waiting in the "tunneling laurel." The imagery of "half-light" and "freshened innocent starches" conveys a sense of purity and the transient nature of adolescence. Belitt’s attention to detail, describing the "stripes of armorial blouses, peacock-blue on the coifs," immerses the reader in a scene where color and light play significant roles in evoking mood and character.

As the poem unfolds, the setting comes to life with "Mirrors and lions: a hand organ. Water boys. Trams." This bustling environment, with vendors priming their water-jars and the soaking of wicker, contrasts with the schoolgirls' delayed, shadowed presence, highlighting the juxtaposition between youthful stillness and the dynamic flow of city life.

The narrative focus narrows to one girl who, "under petticoats, halters, and linens, has taken the hand-crank." This act of engaging with the hand organ, of kindling a tune, symbolizes a moment of initiation—a stepping into a more active, participatory role in the world. The song she plays, "La Niña de Puerta Oscura," ignites a transformation within her, portrayed through explosive imagery: "Her apron explodes. Diagonals, slashings, the leap of the harlequin tiger in a breaking of biasses." This explosion of movement and color reflects the internal upheaval of adolescence, a period marked by intense emotional and physical changes.

Belitt then captures a moment of vulnerability and perhaps realization, noting the girl's "forehead is deathly" and the "phosphor forms, sexual, in the damp of her hair-line." Here, the poet alludes to the awakening of sexual awareness, a theme underscored by the physical and symbolic tightness of her braid against her skull. This passage into knowledge and experience is both luminous and fraught, encapsulated in the imagery of phosphorescence—a light that glows in darkness, suggesting both allure and danger.

The repetition of "A tram and a tram and a tram" at the poem's close emphasizes the relentless march of time and the cyclical nature of life in the city. The "meeting of flint-stones" suggests sparks, perhaps of conflict or creation, underscoring the poem's exploration of moments that mark the transition from innocence to experience.

"Street Song: Malaga" is a rich, layered poem that delves into the themes of youth, transformation, and the sensory tapestry of urban life. Through meticulous imagery and a keen sense of rhythm, Belitt captures the essence of a moment that is both fleeting and profound, offering a window into the complex dance of growing up amidst the enduring cycle of daily life.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?volume=89&issue=2&page=10

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