Poetry Biography

Engle, Margarita.  The Poet Slave of Cuba.  New York:  Henry Holt and Company.  2006.

ISBN  9780805077063 

SUMMARY:  This novel in free verse is a bibliographical work about the life of Juan Francisco Manzano.  Manzano was born into slavery in 1797.  A slave to a wealthy slave owner in Cuba, Juan is denied an education.  Yet, Juan showed an exceptional talent for poetry.  His poetry shows the beauty of the country, but also the cruelty of slavery.  As a boy, he was capable of memorizing and reciting poetic verses in many different languages. He could recount stories read to him, and in this way served as the entertainment for his owner, who made him call her “Mama.” His parents were set free, but his owner chose to keep Juan. Later, when he became the property of a cruel woman, his abilities helped him endure beatings and imprisonment. He is a survivor that didn’t allow his circumstances to destroy his hope.  At sixteen, he manages to escape. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:  This is a very touching verse novel about an exceptional individual. The poetry is lyrical, descriptive, and tugs at the emotions.  The author uses the voice of Manzano and various people from his world to tell us about the first half of a life that was, indeed, extraordinary. The story is sad and contains some terrible scenes of violence, which might overwhelm young children. Qualls's drawings are suitably stark and compelling. They go well with the sadness of the poems and Juan’s situation. The end of the book includes references, acknowledgements, historical notes, and some of Manzano's actual poetry. The notes at the end of the book discuss the remainder of Juan’s life, which becomes better after his escape.  I would have liked for the author to include some poetry he wrote after he escaped. This is an easy read for any student age eleven through eighteen. It is a great choice for reluctant readers. 

POEM EXCERPT: 

Juan 

“My mind is a brush made of feathers

Painting pictures of words

I remember

All that I see

Every syllable

Each word a twin of itself

Telling two stories

At the same time

One of sorrow

The other hope

I love the words

Written with my feathery mind

In the air

And with my sharp fingernails

On leaves in the garden

When my owner catches

A whiff

Of the fragrance

Of words

Engraved in the flesh

Of succulent geranium leaves

Or the perfumed petals of aleli flowers

Then she frowns because she knows

That I dream 

Poetry cools me, syllables calm me

I read the verses of others

The free men

And know

That I’m never alone 

Poetry sets me aflame

I grow furious

Dangerous, a blaze

Of soul and heart, a fiery tongue

A lantern at midnight…”

EXTENTION ACTIVITY: 

After Reading the book, students could also read, I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery, written by Cynthia Grady.  Students could compare and contrast the slavery experience in America with that of Cuba.  Students could also pick an American slave to research, such as Frederick Douglass and compare and contrast Juan’s situation with the American slave they chose. 

Students could also break into groups with each group choosing a character to analyze.  They could list the character traits of their character and pick one poem written from their perspective.  Each group could share their character’s traits and the group could read, and then act out a scene using the poem they chose.   

REFERENCES:

Engle, Margarita.  The Poet Slave of Cuba.  New York:  Henry Holt and Company.  2006. 

Grady, Cynthia.  I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery. 

Grand Rapids, MI:  Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company.  2011. 

Images by Google Images.