1_gonzalez_m

Maria Elena Gonzalez

American Literature

November 22, 2000

El Cuatro of July

In his narrative poem, Alberto Rios writes about the difference in the significance of the Fourth of July in Mexico and the United States. Rios uses the mixing of Spanish and English terms in his work; he emphasizes the different meanings of a holiday, and he might use the word "refugio" to mean, "refuge." Put together, Rios creates a narration of his culture, as well as Mexican-American culture in general. It is evident by the way Rios expresses himself throughout his work, that he is very proud of his roots.

In "Day of the Refugios," Rios mixes Spanish and English terms in his poetry. One example of the mixing of these two languages is in the title, "Day of the Refugios." The title refers to the saint's day of the people named Refugio. Another example of the bilingualism used by Rios is in a line that reads, "In Mexico it was dia de los refugios." Rios also incorporates names in spanish. According to Rios, these names are "real names, not-afraid names, with color and take time to say." He mentions the names of "Refugio, Margarito, Matilde, Alvaro, Consuelo, Humberto, Olga, Celina, and Gilberto" (18-24). John S. Christie, author of Latino Fiction and Modernist Imagination: Literature of the Borderlands, explains that " Latino writers nearly always display affection for the Spanish of the Latin American heritage" (72). There is probably no doubt that Rios is proud to be of Mexican descent.

In "Day of the Refugios," Rios also implies a difference in the significance of the Fourth of July in Mexico and the United States. Rios explains in his work the following:

In that childhood place and border place

The Fourth of July, like everything else,

It meant more than just one thing.

In the United States the Fourth of July

It was the United States.

In Mexico it was the dia de los Refugios. (13-18)

In Rios' poem, these lines explain how he views the difference in the importance of the Fourth of July in comparison to the United States. These lines reveal the meaningfulness of culture in Rios' life. Rios seems to recite in his work, a conception that Latin-Americans cherish the day of their saint, more than Americans cherish the Fourth of July. Juan Gomez-Quinones, author of an essay titled "Toward a Concept of Culture," found in a collection of essays titled
Modern Chicano Writers, explains that "culture is taught by people to other people, parents to children, peers to peers, elders to youth, generation to generation" (55). This course has clearly followed in Rios' life.

Rios seems to write his poem with the use of the word "refugio" to mean, "refuge." The reason why Rios might have used this term was to ascertain the identity of the United States as a refuge for Mexican immigrants. The United States might have served as a refuge for Rios and his family, as well. These conclusions can be reached by analyzing Rios' poem very closely.

In his poem Rios uses the mixing of spanish and english terms, he concentrates on the different meanings of the Fourth of July in Mexico and the United States, and he might also use the word "refugio" to mean, "refuge." The intertwining of all of these sources makes Rios' poem a description of Mexican-American culture, a culture that Rios seems to be very proud of. The combination of all of these terms and Rios' style make his poem very enjoyable to read and a wonderful piece of modern poetry.

Sources Cited

Christie, John S. Latino Fiction and the Modernist Imagination: Literature of the

Borderlands. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1998.

Gomez-Quinones, Juan. "Toward a Concept of Culture." Modern Chicano Writers. Ed.

Joseph Sommers, and Tomas Ybarra-Frausto. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1979.

54-66.

Rios, Alberto. "Day of the Refugios." 28 Aug. 2000. <http//www.poets.org>.









			Maria Elena Gonzalez American Literature November 22, 2000 El Cuatro of July In his narrative poem, Alberto Rios writes about the difference in the significance of the Fourth of July in Mexico and the United States. Rios uses the mixing of Spanish and English terms in his work; he emphasizes the different meanings of a holiday, and he might use the word "refugio" to mean, "refuge." Put together, Rios creates a narration of his culture, as well as Mexican-American culture in general. It is evident by the way Rios expresses himself throughout his work, that he is very proud of his roots. In "Day of the Refugios," Rios mixes Spanish and English terms in his poetry. One example of the mixing of these two languages is in the title, "Day of the Refugios." The title refers to the saint's day of the people named Refugio. Another example of the bilingualism used by Rios is in a line that reads, "In Mexico it was dia de los refugios." Rios also incorporates names in spanish. According to Rios, these names are "real names, not-afraid names, with color and take time to say." He mentions the names of "Refugio, Margarito, Matilde, Alvaro, Consuelo, Humberto, Olga, Celina, and Gilberto" (18-24). John S. Christie, author of Latino Fiction and Modernist Imagination: Literature of the Borderlands, explains that " Latino writers nearly always display affection for the Spanish of the Latin American heritage" (72). There is probably no doubt that Rios is proud to be of Mexican descent. In "Day of the Refugios," Rios also implies a difference in the significance of the Fourth of July in Mexico and the United States. Rios explains in his work the following: In that childhood place and border place The Fourth of July, like everything else, It meant more than just one thing. In the United States the Fourth of July It was the United States. In Mexico it was the dia de los Refugios. (13-18) In Rios' poem, these lines explain how he views the difference in the importance of the Fourth of July in comparison to the United States. These lines reveal the meaningfulness of culture in Rios' life. Rios seems to recite in his work, a conception that Latin-Americans cherish the day of their saint, more than Americans cherish the Fourth of July. Juan Gomez-Quinones, author of an essay titled "Toward a Concept of Culture," found in a collection of essays titled Modern Chicano Writers, explains that "culture is taught by people to other people, parents to children, peers to peers, elders to youth, generation to generation" (55). This course has clearly followed in Rios' life. Rios seems to write his poem with the use of the word "refugio" to mean, "refuge." The reason why Rios might have used this term was to ascertain the identity of the United States as a refuge for Mexican immigrants. The United States might have served as a refuge for Rios and his family, as well. These conclusions can be reached by analyzing Rios' poem very closely. In his poem Rios uses the mixing of spanish and english terms, he concentrates on the different meanings of the Fourth of July in Mexico and the United States, and he might also use the word "refugio" to mean, "refuge." The intertwining of all of these sources makes Rios' poem a description of Mexican-American culture, a culture that Rios seems to be very proud of. The combination of all of these terms and Rios' style make his poem very enjoyable to read and a wonderful piece of modern poetry. Sources Cited Christie, John S. Latino Fiction and the Modernist Imagination: Literature of the Borderlands. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1998. Gomez-Quinones, Juan. "Toward a Concept of Culture." Modern Chicano Writers. Ed. Joseph Sommers, and Tomas Ybarra-Frausto. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1979. 54-66. Rios, Alberto. "Day of the Refugios." 28 Aug. 2000. <http//www.poets.org>.