Cenizas: Poems

Cenizas by Cynthia Guardado is a collection of poems that explore the impact of global politics on a Salvadoran family, questioning the meaning of homeland and capturing moments of beauty and tenderness. The poems mourn those who were lost and honor the strength of the speakers ancestors, even as El Salvador keeps pulling the speaker back.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2022
Publisher: University of Arizona Press

Cenizas, a captivating collection of poems by Cynthia Guardado, delves into the lives of a Salvadoran family and their experiences with global politics. The poems, written by the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, explore the meaning of homeland and the impact of personal and public history on their lives. Guardado's poems offer a poignant portrayal of family trauma, capturing moments of beauty and tenderness amidst the ashes of history. The sparse, narrative style of the poems reveals the layers of the family's story, with maternal figures guiding the speaker as they navigate the complexities of their heritage. The collection, spanning over a decade of writing, delves into the Salvadoran Civil War, its aftermath, and the bittersweet legacies that are passed down from one generation to the next. Guardado's poems mourn those who were lost and honor the strength of their ancestors, who have endured the atrocities committed against them. Despite the warnings of danger, the speaker continues to find beauty among the ruins of El Salvador, a country that keeps pulling her back.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780816546176