Dawn, Federico Garcia Lorca

 Dawn in New York has 

Four columns of mire

And hurricanes of black pigeons

Splashing in the putrid water

Dawn in New York groans

on enormous fire escapes

searching between the angles

for spikenards of drafted anguish

Dawn arrives and no one receives it in his mouth

because morning and hope are impossible there

sometimes the furious swarming coins

penetrate like drills and devour abandoned children.

Those who go out early know in their bones

there will be no paradise or loves that bloom and die:

they know they will be mired in numbers and laws,

in mindless games, in fruitless labors.

The light is buried under chains and noises

in the impudent challenge of rootless science

And crowds stagger sleeplessly through the boroughs

as if they had just escaped a shipwreck of blood.

Dawn arrives

 Garcia Lorca says "Dawn arrives" just as he was setting up a new scene inside a theatre play. In fact we can imagine New York waking up from the night. Other imaginaries are scattered throughout the poem. Examples of them are the lines "Four columns of mire and a hurricane of black pigeons"(Stanza 1) and "Dawn in New York groans on enormous fire escapes". These are phrases that helps us set an image of New York in our head; the images of a set where the lives of millions of people are enacted every morning. Federico Garcia Lorca uses his poetic wisdom and his surrealistic roots to show us a New York that has been affected by the issues of its country in the times in which this poem was written (Late 20s).

Arman

Those who go out early

 Lorca says that "Those who go out early" end up mired in numbers and laws. But what does he mean? First of all it is important to know that mired means to "become stuck in mud" so the poet is talking about physical impossibility caused by an external situation which in this case is the life in early 20th century New York itself. In fact, the poet says that "Those who go out early know in their bones there will be no paradise or loves that bloom and die." Garcia Lorca might be talking about the large crowd, who has to get up early and go work inside factories which can be a dehumanizing job when seen from a poetic sense of view. It is also important to notice that this poem was written during the years of the Great Depression so the poet might be reflecting on the misery of those years and how do they reflect inside of New York.

(Arman)

Commentary 2

 In the second stanza of the poem is where you see how messy and chaotic New York is. “Dawn in New York groans”, implying that the very busy city has constant noise going on. The trains, taxis and crowds of people around the city making the city groan. 

Commentary

 - in the beginning of the poem they give us the setting which is New York, all the things you would imagine when u think of New York. The sky views , pigeons everywhere and puddles in every direction. Showing the beauty and messy of the city 

- Lynnett 

Mindless Games, Fruitless Labors

Mindless games and Fruitless Labor are just what they sound. If you're stuck doing a mindless game, it's something that you can't decide makes any sense. Something that seems almost like busy work. Whether it be from a terrible reward, or the games just don't seem to have a real goal or endpoint, it can really drive you crazy. Fruitless rewards are the same. More busy work. Labors that don't have a good goal in mind and may not make the most sense. It'll lead you to question whether there "Was ever even a point in doing that?" or "What did I gain from doing this?". We often catch ourselves doing something along these lines and questioning the reason behind it. Was it all really for nothing, or is there a legitimate lesson or even goal that I accomplished from this. 

There will be no paradise

 When we as humans think of paradise, we usually think of a beautiful place like you would almost see out of a movie. Maybe a beach of some sort with clear water, perfect weather, and great vibes all around. While paradise is usually a place, there's also a mindset that comes with it. Being completely worry free and not having to think about the things in life that bring you anger is something that also comes with paradise. If you're in paradise, the last thing you want to do is be sad or upset at all. You won't be able to fully enjoy the great place that's before you. The thought of having no paradise ever is something that will make you worry.  You'll have nothing to really look forward to knowing the best is beyond you and won't ever come. It's almost like living life without knowing of the certain benefits that come of age. Independence, more freedom, etc. While yes, those are things that do come with ups and downs, they're worth the celebration and the long time spent without it just makes it that much more sweet and that much more worth it.

furious swarming coins / Penetrate like drills and devour abandoned children

 As grown-ups are possessing one self's in gathering their will to begin their day by getting up. Once they have gotten up, they will carefully acquire their belongings for the day in silence to not wake their children. Parents are conscious of how early it is and do not want to interrupt their kid’s sleep since they need to wake up later for school. They will often leave their children at home because society has established in our minds that we need to go to work to pay rent, bills, and other necessities. The “furious swarming coins” refers to how we are experiencing the negative effects of capitalism because we do not have a choice in wanting to work since everything has become expensive. Parents are filled with constant thoughts about their financial expenses and work to make it through the year. They do not have the pleasure of enjoying small and insignificant things like seeing glimpses of dawn. Our mindset has drained away thoughts that used to bring us comfort and happiness, but now it has adversely altered our perspective of the meaning of life.

no one receives it in his mouth / Because morning and hope are impossible there

When dawn materializes, it is around a quarter-past five in the morning, which is usually early for most people. Most of the population sleeps through dawn because they wake up later for work or school. Even if there are a few individuals who wake up around this time, it is difficult to get out of bed in a timely matter. Nobody enjoys being awake, consequently currently due to not being able to appreciate the comfiness and security of their bed. When a person wakes up, they do not see any aspiration in finding optimism in living through the day. It becomes daunting when an individual recognizes how society has brought upon them feelings of oppression when having brand-new beginnings. It sinks into our minds how we are constantly waking up tired and worn out from not having the luxury of relaxing and enjoying sleep for a moment longer. We wake up in the morning with a mentality of needing to wake up to provide our necessities of living.We cannot savor the moments when dawn makes an appearance because we are focused on trying to make it through the day, which can decrease our freedom.  

-the phrase “The light is buried under chains and noises”  suggests a scenario where something valuable, positive, or true is obscured(hidden) by negative influences or obstacles. In this poem the poet is expressing that the negative influence or obstacle is the over population of New York City. Capitalism, polluted waters, deafening noises, and relentless crowds are all what come from the problem within New York . Hiding within the concrete walls is a sunny life that used to exist but might never again. Overall, the phrase evokes a sense of something valuable or essential being obstructed by various negative forces.