Gabriela MistralGabriela Mistral

Robyn Gorham & Ashlee GreyRobyn Gorham & Ashlee Grey

Background InformationBackground Information• Gabriela Mistral was born on April 7Gabriela Mistral was born on April 7thth, 1889 and , 1889 and

died on January 10died on January 10thth, 1957., 1957.• Her real name is Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga, but Her real name is Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga, but

she goes under the name Gabriela Mistral.she goes under the name Gabriela Mistral.• She was originally from Chile, which plays a She was originally from Chile, which plays a

strong role later in her poetry. strong role later in her poetry. • Aside from being a poet, Mistral was also a Aside from being a poet, Mistral was also a

educator, diplomat, and a feminist.educator, diplomat, and a feminist.• She was also a very religious woman, and you She was also a very religious woman, and you

can really tell in her poetry.can really tell in her poetry.• In 1945, she was the first Latin American to win In 1945, she was the first Latin American to win

a Nobel Prize in Literature.a Nobel Prize in Literature.• She wrote her first poem after meeting a fellow She wrote her first poem after meeting a fellow

well-known poet Pablo Neruda.well-known poet Pablo Neruda.

Background Information Background Information (Continued…)(Continued…)

• Mistral experienced a lot of tragedy in her life.Mistral experienced a lot of tragedy in her life.• When she was three years old, her father left her and her When she was three years old, her father left her and her

family to live on their own.family to live on their own.• When she was sixteen years old, she had a job as a teacher’s When she was sixteen years old, she had a job as a teacher’s

aide to help support her mother.aide to help support her mother.• When she was seventeen years old, she met the love of her When she was seventeen years old, she met the love of her

life, Romeo Ureta.life, Romeo Ureta.• Mistral was completely devastated though, when Romeo had Mistral was completely devastated though, when Romeo had

committed suicide after only three years of knowing each committed suicide after only three years of knowing each other (1909).other (1909).

• Later on, Gabriela lost even more when her nephew that she Later on, Gabriela lost even more when her nephew that she was very close to also committed suicide when he was was very close to also committed suicide when he was seventeen. seventeen.

• From all of this however, she became a wonderful writer. From all of this however, she became a wonderful writer.

I am Not AloneI am Not AloneThe night, it is deserted from the mountains to the sea. But I, the one who rocks you, I am not alone!

The sky, it is deserted for the moon falls to the sea. But I, the one who holds you,I am not alone !

The world, it is deserted. All flesh is sad you see. But I, the one who hugs you, I am not alone!

CreedCreedI believe in my heart that whenThe wounded heart sunk within the depth of God singsIt rises from the pond aliveAs if new-born. I believe in my heart that what I wring from myselfTo tinge life’s canvasWith red of pallid hue, thus cloaking it In luminous garb. 

The StrangerThe StrangerThe Stranger (La Extranjera) She speaks in her way of her savage seasWith unknown algae and unknown sands;She prays to a formless, weightless God,Aged, as if dying.In our garden now so strange,She has planted cactus and alien grass.The desert zephyr fills her with its breathAnd she has loved with a fierce, white passionShe never speaks of, for if she were to tellIt would be like the face of unknown stars.Among us she may live for eighty years,Yet always as if newly come,Speaking a tongue that plants and whinesOnly by tiny creatures understood.And she will die here in our midstOne night of utmost suffering,With only her fate as a pillow,And death, silent and strange.

The Shining HostThe Shining Host

In vain you tryTo smother my song:A million childrenIn chorus sing itBeneath the sun! In vain you tryTo break my verseOf affliction:The children sing it Under God!

AnniversaryAnniversaryAnd we go on and on,Neither sleeping nor awake,Towards the meeting, unawareThat we are already there.That the silence is perfect,And that the flesh is gone.The call still is not heardNor does the Caller reveal his face.…..But perhaps this might beOh, my love, the giftOf the eternal Face without gesturesAnd of the kingdom without form!

To See Him AgainTo See Him AgainNever, never again?Not on nights filled with quivering stars,or during dawn's maiden brightnessor afternoons of sacrifice?

Or at the edge of a pale paththat encircles the farmlands,or upon the rim of a trembling fountain,whitened by a shimmering moon?

Or beneath the forest'sluxuriant, raveled tresseswhere, calling his name,I was overtaken by the night?Not in the grotto that returnsthe echo of my cry?

Oh no. To see him again --it would not matter where --in heaven's deadwateror inside the boiling vortex,under serene moons or in bloodless fright!

To be with him...every springtime and winter,united in one anguished knotaround his bloody neck!

Analysis of To See Him AgainAnalysis of To See Him AgainSummary: This poem is describing the feeling of despair over the loss of someone who was close to the writer’s heart. It does not matter when or where or what she has to do, she will give anything to see him again.

Poetic Devices: Personification- “Or beneath the forest'sluxuriant, raveled tresses.” In this line, the tree’s leaves are being described as human hair or tresses.Symbolism: “United in one anguished knot.” This symbolizes that no matter how painful she wants to be when with him.

Theme: lost love.

Imagery:

“Not on nights filled with quivering stars,or during dawn's maiden brightness”

‘Or at the edge of a pale paththat encircles the farmlands,’

Tiny FeetTiny FeetA child's tiny feet, Blue, blue with cold, How can they see and not protect you? Oh, my God! Tiny wounded feet, Bruised all over by pebbles, Abused by snow and soil!

Man, being blind, ignores that where you step, you leave A blossom of bright light, that where you have placed your bleeding little soles a redolent tuberose grows.

Since, however, you walk through the streets so straight, you are courageous, without fault.

Child's tiny feet, Two suffering little gems, How can the people pass, unseeing.

Analysis of Tiny FeetAnalysis of Tiny FeetSummary: This poem is about how each child has the potential to be anything they want to be, but adults sometimes ignore it. Children represent our hope for the future, and if adults do not encourage, support or become a positive influence on them, the future would be hopeless.

Poetic Devices: Symbolism: The phrase “tiny feet” represents the journey of life that children live.Alliteration: Man, being blind, ignores

that where you step, you leave A blossom of bright light, that where you have placed your bleeding little soles a redolent tuberose grows.

Theme: Potential and influence.

Imagery:“A child's tiny feet, Blue, blue with cold,”

“that where you step, you leave A blossom of bright light,”

Those Who Do Not DanceThose Who Do Not DanceDiscussion Poem

A crippled childSaid, “How shall I dance?”Let your heart danceWe said. 

Then the invalid said:“How shall I sing?”Let your heart singWe said 

Then spoke the poor dead thistle,But I, how shall I dance?”Let your heart fly to the windWe said.

Then God spoke from above“How shall I descend from the blue?”Come dance for us here in the lightWe said. All the valley is dancingTogether under the sun,And the heart of him who joins us notIs turned to dust, to dust.  

DiscussionDiscussion

• Do you agree with Gabriela Mistral that you do not have to physically dance to experience the feeling of dance?

• What do you think that the fourth stanza of “Those Who do Not Dance” means?

• How do you think that the phrase “And the heart of him who joins us not Is turned to dust, to dust” applies to each of us?

BibliographyBibliography

• http://www.poetseers.org/nobel_prize_for_literature/gab/• http://www.biographyonline.net/poets/gabriela_mistral.html• http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/gabriela_mistral/

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