Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The Elements of San Joaquin: Field, written by Gary Soto in 1993, is a powerful and thought-provoking poem in which readers are exposed to the harsh realities of a migrant worker’s life. This poem conveys Soto’s emotions towards the plight of migrant workers and encourages readers to become more aware of the difficulties they face. Through the specific motifs and verse structure of the poem, Soto effectively expresses the human cost of such an arduous job and highlights the value of labor and optimism in less than fortunate circumstances.

Explanation:

In The Elements of San Joaquin: Field, Soto paints a vivid picture of a migrant worker’s day through the eyes of an unidentifiable narrator. The narrator begins by detailing the laborer’s simple and meager gear for the day, with the only essential item being “one pocket comb”. With this, he is also “clad in a blessed cotton hooded shirt” which, as the poem progresses, slowly becomes “soiled and damp with dirt and sweat” from the hard labor of the day. The beating sun is ever-present and unyielding, with each stroke of the workers’ “blades of steel” seemingly exacerbating the heat.

The poem conveys the relentless sorrow and labor of the worker, who never takes a break but continues on until “the ornery heat of noon has ten screws in every worker’s head”, representing the undeniably harsh work environment under which they operate. The poem characterizes these conditions as “all there is and all that's left”, suggesting that no break, reward, or end is in sight for the workers.

In the final stanza, Soto highlights the vale of positivity and optimism even in less than desirable circumstances. He states that despite their unfortunate situation, the workers remain “smiling” and enjoy a “happy harvest” of “corn and chiles”. The food speaks of comfort as the workers draw sustenance from the hard labor that they tend to perform.

Poetic Elements:

• Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD, AABB
• Structure: The poem is composed of three quatrains with an AABB rhyme scheme, and a final couplet with a rhyme scheme of AABB.
• Language: Descriptive language is used to give readers a detailed image of the labor and setting.
• Tone: The poem has a nostalgic and solemn tone as it explores the difficult but necessary toil of the workers.

Conclusion:

In The Elements of San Joaquin: Field, Gary Soto expresses the difficulty and labor of a migrant worker’s life with a thought-provoking poem. Through vivid imagery and the verse structure of the poem, Soto effectively highlights the human cost of such an arduous job and conveys the necessity of resilience and positivity in difficult situations. The poem leaves readers with an impression of admiration and gratitude for the laborers who, despite their struggles, never stop striving for better conditions and more rewarding harvests.