Preciosa and the Wind: Analysis of Lorca’s Poem

Posted on Jan 24, 2025 in English Language and Literature

Preciosa and the Wind: A Deep Dive into Lorca’s Poem

Dedication and Initial Publication

This is the second poem entitled Beautiful Gypsy Ballads and appears dedicated to Dámaso Alonso, a member of the Generation of ’27 and president of the Spanish Royal Academy at the time. This romance was first published in the poetry magazine Litoral in Málaga in 1926. According to Lorca himself, this poem is a “myth of a Tartessian beach.”

Thematic Summary

The subject of this romance is Preciosa, who is playing, and the wind, which appears metamorphosed into a satyr, starting to run after the gypsy to possess her, and how she manages to escape.

Symbolism and Interpretation

  • “Parchment moon” refers to a tambourine, one of the gypsies.
  • The word “fish” in the eighth verse symbolizes eroticism.
  • The civil guard or police represent the oppressor.
  • The “Englishman” is an ironic allusion to the modern world that does not understand Preciosa’s fear.
  • The verse “and the gypsies / water had to distract himself, / Bowers shells / and green pine branches” refers to the Roma who are having a party.
  • In the verse, “Open my old fingers / the blue rose of your womb,” the wind expresses a desire to impregnate Preciosa, reflecting the traditional belief that the wind has a fertilizing force. Gypsies have an almost morbid fear of the wind because it is believed that the devil sneezes. It is also believed that a storm can leave women pregnant.
  • The wind symbolizes male instinct and represents the attractive female gypsy.
  • The Gypsy Rider does not arrive on time; his ride is useless, hence the frustration.

Structural Breakdown

The poem can be divided into three parts:

  1. Part 1 (verses 1-6): Presents the environmental situation where Preciosa is.
  2. Part 2 (verses 17-42): The wind, personified as a satyr, chases Preciosa. This part can be further subdivided into:
    1. (verses 17-24) Preciosa is playing the tambourine, and the wind wakes up.
    2. (verses 25-28) The wind tells Preciosa it is going to lift her dress and impregnate her.
    3. (verses 29-32) Preciosa escapes as the wind chases her.
    4. (verses 33-36) The sense of the gypsy is shown through metaphors.
    5. (verses 37-42) The author advises Preciosa to run.
  3. Part 3 (verses 43-58): Preciosa hides in the house of the British consul, who comforts her. Preciosa recounts what happened to these people.

Poetic Form

The poem consists of several stanzas grouped into three blocks. It has an indefinite number of eight-syllable verses rhyming in assonance in pairs, with the odd verses free. This type of composition is a romance, like the previous one.

Stylistic Resources

Metaphors

  • “The parchment moon” (verse 1) refers to a tambourine.
  • “Full of heavenly tongues” (verse 22) – wind movement.
  • “Blue rose of your womb” (verse 28) – the child she may have.
  • “Satyr of low stars / gleaming with their tongues” (verses 41-42) – movement of the wind.

Adjectives

  • “An amphibious path” (verse 3)
  • “Keeping the white towers” (verse 11)
  • “Green pine branches” (verse 16)
  • “A sweet bagpipe away” (verse 24)
  • “Her tight black layer” (verse 49)
  • “A warm glass of milk” (verse 52)

Antithesis

“The police are sleeping / saving the white towers” (verses 10-11)

Personification

  • “Silence starless / fleeing the chant / falls where the sea beats and chants” (verses 5-7)
  • “To see it has risen / the wind that never sleeps” (verses 19-20)
  • “The big man pursues wind / hot with a sword.” (verses 31-32)
  • “The wind was furious and bite” (verse 58)
  • “Gather your rumor sea. / The pale olive” (verses 33 and 34)

Epanadiplosis

“Preciosa, run, Preciosa! (verses 37 and 39)

Symbolic Elements

Fish, green, hot, green wind, erotic show

Exclamation

  • “Preciosa, run, Preciosa, / you take the green wind” (verses 37-38)
  • “Preciosa, run, Preciosa! / Look where it comes” (verses 39-40)

Dialogue

“Girl, let up / your dress to see you, / old open on my fingers / the blue rose of your womb” (verses 25-28) – the wind speaks with Preciosa

Repetition

“Her parchment moon / Precious is playing” (verses 1-2) – (17-18)