Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorge Luis Borges' poem "Allusion to a Shadow of the Nineties" is a brief yet evocative exploration of memory, violence, and the ways in which certain figures and events are remembered—or forgotten—by history. Through the figure of Juan Muraña, a notorious knife fighter, Borges delves into the fleeting nature of human life and the persistence of certain symbols or names that outlast the individuals who bore them.

The poem opens with a stark declaration: "Nothing. Only Muraña’s knife." This line immediately sets the tone, suggesting that all that remains of Juan Muraña is the memory of his weapon—an instrument of violence that has come to define him. The phrase "Only half a tale by gray light" further emphasizes the incomplete and shadowy nature of the memory. Borges acknowledges that what we remember is often fragmented, partially obscured by the passage of time and the fading of details.

Borges reflects on the mysterious nature of this memory: "Who knows why, now it is evening, / This killer I have never seen / Follows me?" The evening setting evokes a sense of twilight, both literal and metaphorical, as if Borges is reflecting on these memories in the fading light of day, a time associated with reflection and the approach of darkness. The killer, Juan Muraña, whom Borges has never met, seems to haunt him, a shadowy presence that lingers despite the passage of time. This suggests that certain figures, especially those associated with violence or infamy, have a way of persisting in the collective memory, even when their personal histories have been lost.

Borges then takes us to Palermo, which was "a slum beneath the prison wall" in the 1890s. This description places the setting in a marginalized, gritty area, reinforcing the sense of danger and lawlessness that characterized the environment in which Muraña operated. The "vile / Knife" that "roamed" these barrens, belonging to Muraña, becomes a symbol of the violence and fear that pervaded this space.

As Borges continues, he acknowledges that the "face has faded" of Juan Muraña, the "mercenary whose grim / Profession was courage." The use of the word "mercenary" suggests that Muraña was a hired killer, someone who lived by the sword in a world where violence was both a profession and a measure of manhood. However, despite the fading of his physical appearance, what remains is "a shadow, a flash / Of steel." This imagery highlights the lasting impression of the violence Muraña represented, as the memory of his knife outlives the man himself.

In the final lines, Borges reflects on the nature of memory and history: "Let time, burying marble, / Save one fierce name: Juan Muraña." Here, Borges suggests that while time may erode physical monuments and erase detailed memories, certain names, especially those associated with violence or notoriety, endure. The "marble" likely refers to gravestones or monuments that mark the passing of individuals, but Borges implies that these physical markers are less important than the reputation or name that survives in the collective consciousness.

"Allusion to a Shadow of the Nineties" is a meditation on the persistence of memory and the way certain figures, particularly those associated with violence, become immortalized in history. Borges uses the figure of Juan Muraña to explore how people are remembered not for their full lives or complex identities, but often for a single, defining trait—in this case, Muraña's knife. The poem reflects on the inevitability of forgetting most details of a person's life while also acknowledging that certain symbols, like Muraña’s knife, can become enduring representations of an era or a way of life. Through his succinct and powerful language, Borges captures the fleeting nature of life and the paradoxical permanence of certain aspects of human existence, particularly those linked to violence and infamy.

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