Puerto Rican Obituary

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1973

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Poem Analysis

Themes

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Literary Devices

Further Reading & Resources

Related Poems

“Telephone Booth (number 905 ½)” by Pedro Pietri (1973)

This poem provides an ironic interpretation of an employee’s responsibility to work, with the speaker calling his boss to tell him that he is “feeling too good / to report to work” (Lines 11-12). The speaker intends to wait until he feels worse to return, promising that he might even “come in early” (Line 14) when he feels poorly enough to come in. Pietri gives his speaker a lighthearted tone to contrast with the more serious theme concerning the speaker’s lack of a fulfilling career.

“Empire of Dreams [excerpt]" by Giannina Braschi (1988)

This excerpt from Braschi’s influential collection of poems of the same title seeks to encapsulate life in New York City. Structured as a series of prose poems, the collection has been a touchstone for Puerto Rican and Latino writers since its publication.

“New Year’s Eve December 31, 1975” by Miguel Algarín (2009)

Algarín’s poem is set at the Nuyorican Café, where everyone is involved in the festive atmosphere of New Year’s Eve. The speaker dwells on moments of existential and physical discomfort, set against the jubilation of a crowd preparing to count down to the new year. The poem concludes with the lines, “and here it is 1976 enters in like a / glass sliver undetected yet causing pain” (Lines 81-82).

“Sonnet Substantially Like the Words of F Rodriguez One Position Ahead of Me on the Unemployment Line” by Jack Agüeros (1991)

As in Pietri’s work, Agüeros conveys the US’s unfair economic system and the disadvantaged position of many individuals seeking gainful employment. The speaker compares standing in line at the unemployment office to being a yo-yo or a child’s top, emphasizing the sense that he is at the mercy of the games the economy and businesses play with workers in search of employment.

Further Literary Resources

“A Brief Guide to Nuyorican Poetry” by poets.org (2017)

This article provides background on the Nuyorican movement, from its inception in the early 1960s through its heyday in the 1970s. The unknown author compares the Nuyorican literary movement to the Harlem Renaissance in that both periods are a result of widespread relocation to New York City. The article includes the names of prominent members of the movement and explains the genesis of the Nuyorican Poets Café, where Pietri, among others, performed his work.

“Legacy of the Poet Pedro Pietri” by Liane Hansen (2004)

This segment from National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Sunday offers a tribute to the poet just a few days after his death. Hansen provides a biographical overview and includes excerpts from Pietri’s work.

“Pietri, 59, Poet Who Chronicled Nuyorican Life, Dies” by David Gonzalez (2004)

This obituary from The New York Times provides a snapshot of Pietri’s life and significance as a writer. Gonzalez quotes Pietri’s sister extensively and traces the poet’s life from his birth in Ponce, Puerto Rico, through his years as a writer and spoken word performer, concluding with his death in 2004, from stomach cancer.

“A Spoken History of the Nuyorican Poets Café” by Alejandra Salazar (2021)

This joint article and audio episode from Latino USA describes the origins and significance of the Nuyorican Poets Café from the perspectives of the people who were there when it was founded. The article also describes the experience of those who were involved with the movement in the decades since its creation.