Summary Of Isla By Virgil Suarez

“Isla” by Virgil Suarez is a powerful image of migration through the eyes of a young boy. Suarez uses this narrative, free-verse poem as a personal experience of his migration from Cuba. His reference to Godzilla helps the reader connect with his experience (Kirszner & Mandell, 2012). In the poem, Suarez begins by using allusions to make the poem more relevant to the reader. He references several children television programs putting the reader in a young mindset. The speaker is aware at an early age how immigrants are viewed by society, like Godzilla awakening and destroying the island. At the time this poem was written, society viewed immigrants like monsters moving through destroying our land. This is a shocking image in my mind. It is sad to think a child would relate themselves to an angry Godzilla (Kirszner & Mandell, 2012). Suarez uses detailed imagery when he is describing the television he watched as a child. He says he is transfixed allowing the reader to picture a child staring closely and intently at a television, unable to move, caught in the moment of the show. The image is one of a child zombie-like in front of the television. He uses snow fizz to describe the screen letting the reader imagine they are the one watching the old black and white television. This image of the fuzzy black …show more content…
The reader can almost feel the thunderous roar of Godzilla. Through detailed imagination of the child throwing pillows around as if he is destroying the house like a monster. The reader can see Godzilla stomping through Tokyo whipping his tail destroying the buildings. Suarez describes Cuba as a reptile looking island on all his maps. He says his mother is fussing about the monster. Although a child, he is aware of the monster, Cuba. The speaker seems to be looking back in time and contemplating his life. He is trying to find some form of understanding for his past actions (Kirszner & Mandell,