Parsley
By Rita Dove
- The Cane Fields
There is a parrot imitating spring in the palace, its feathers a parsley green. Out of the swamp the cane appears to haunt us, and we cut it down. The general searches for a word; he is looking for it in the world. Like a parrot imitating spring, we lie down screaming as rain punches through and we rise green. We cannot speak an R out of the swamp, the cane appears again. And then the mountain we call Katalina in whispers. The children gnaw their teeth to arrowheads. There is a parrot imitating spring.
The general has found his word: perejil. Who says it lives. He laughs, teeth shining out of the swamp. The cane appears in our dreams, lashed by wind and streaming. And we lie down. For every drop of blood there is a parrot imitating spring. Out of the swamp the cane appears.
- The Palace
The word the general has chosen is parsley. It is fall, when thoughts turn to love and death; the general thinks of his mother, how she died in the fall and he planted her walking cane at the grave and it flowered, each spring stolidly forming four‑star blossoms. The general pulls on his boots, he stomps to her room in the palace, the one without curtains, the one with a parrot in a brass ring. As he paces he wonders Who can I kill today. And for a moment the little knot of screams is still. The parrot, who has traveled all the way from Australia in an ivory cage, is coy as a widow, practising spring. Ever since the morning his mother collapsed in the kitchen while baking skull‑shaped candies for the Day of the Dead, the general has hated sweets. He orders pastries brought up for the bird; they arrive dusted with sugar on a bed of lace. The knot in his throat starts to twitch; he sees his boots the first day in battle splashed with mud and urine as a soldier falls at his feet amazed, how stupid he looked, at the sound of artillery. I never thought it would sing the soldier said, and died. Now the general sees the fields of sugar cane lashed by rain and streaming. He sees his mother’s smile, the teeth gnawed to arrowheads. He hears the Haitians sing without R’s as they swing the great machetes: Katalina, they sing, Katalina, mi madre, mi amor en muerte. God knows his mother was no stupid woman; she could roll an R like a queen. Even a parrot can roll an R! In the bare room the bright feathers arch in a parody of greenery, as the last pale crumbs disappear under the blackened tongue. Someone calls out his name in a voice so like his mother’s, a startled tear splashes the tip of his right boot. My mother, my love in death. The general remembers the tiny green sprigs men of his village wore in their capes to honor the birth of a son. He will order many, this time, to be killed for a single, beautiful word.
Unveiling the Layers of Rita Dove’s “Parsley”
Welcome to an exploration of Rita Dove’s profound poem, “Parsley.” This haunting work delves into one of history’s darkest chapters: the 1937 Parsley Massacre, a brutal event in the Dominican Republic where thousands of Haitian laborers and Dominicans of Haitian descent were murdered. “Parsley” is not merely a historical recounting; it is a complex tapestry woven with themes of language, power, identity, and the cyclical nature of violence. Join us as we unravel its meaning, examine its powerful literary devices, and understand why this poem remains a vital and resonant piece of literature.
What is “Parsley” About?
At its core, “Parsley” vividly portrays the horrific events surrounding the persecution of Haitian workers in the Dominican Republic. General Rafael Trujillo, the Dominican dictator, orchestrated a cruel test: soldiers would demand individuals pronounce the Spanish word for parsley, “perejil.” Those unable to roll their “R” sound, a linguistic trait often associated with Haitian Creole speakers, were identified and summarily executed. The poem masterfully juxtaposes the seemingly innocuous word “parsley” a simple herb, with its terrifying role as a determinant of life and death. It weaves together lush, vibrant natural imagery with chilling echoes of personal and historical memory. This is a stark and chilling portrayal of how language can be weaponized, used to justify unimaginable cruelty, and ultimately, to erase lives.
Central Idea: The Terrifying Power of Language
The poem’s central idea revolves around the terrifying and absolute power of language. Dove demonstrates how a single word, “parsley” or “perejil,” transforms into an instrument of oppression, a tool that dictates who lives and who dies. It exposes the fragility of identity, revealing how easily it can be constructed and dismantled through arbitrary linguistic criteria. Furthermore, the poem examines how language can mask violence, create a false appearance of normalcy, and perpetuate cycles of trauma, making it a crucial study for understanding historical atrocities.
In-Depth Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Parsley”
Rita Dove employs a rich array of literary and poetic devices to convey the profound tragedy and complex psychology within “Parsley.” Understanding these techniques deepens our appreciation of the poem’s impact.
Imagery and Symbolism
Dove masterfully uses imagery and symbolism to create a vivid and unsettling atmosphere. The repeated image of the parrot “imitating spring” is central to the poem’s meaning. The parrot, though beautiful, is a mimic, a superficial imitation of life and natural renewal. This can be interpreted as a symbol of the deceptive façade of order and prosperity imposed by Trujillo, masking the horrific brutality beneath. For example, the line, “There is a parrot imitating spring in the palace, its feathers a parsley green,” immediately introduces this artificiality. The color green, associated with parsley and spring, is ironically juxtaposed with violence and death throughout the poem. Consider the chilling line: “For every drop of blood there is a parrot imitating spring.” This pairing underscores the poem’s central irony: beauty and horror coexist, often intertwined. The cane fields themselves are deeply symbolic, representing both the arduous agricultural labor of the Haitian workers and the very instruments of their suffering. The recurring image, “Out of the swamp the cane appears to haunt us,” highlights the enduring trauma and omnipresent threat faced by the victims.
Repetition and Refrain
The refrain “There is a parrot imitating spring” functions as a haunting chorus throughout the poem. This repetition is not merely stylistic; it emphasizes the cyclical nature of violence and the enduring presence of trauma. Its recurrence, as seen in lines like “Like a parrot imitating spring, we lie down screaming as rain punches through and we rise green,” reminds the reader that the pattern of oppression continues, regardless of location or time. It also subtly hints that the oppressor’s efforts to create order and beauty are ultimately hollow imitations of the natural world, lacking genuine life or compassion.
Juxtaposition and Contrast
Dove frequently employs juxtaposition and contrast to heighten the poem’s emotional impact and reveal its complex themes. For instance, the poem contrasts idyllic imagery of spring and lush vegetation with the brutal reality of the massacre. The general’s memories of his mother, a symbol of love and nurturing, are sharply contrasted with his cold-hearted decision to order the killings. We see this in the lines describing his mother’s cane flowering into “four-star blossoms” immediately followed by his chilling thought, “Who can I kill today.” This stark juxtaposition highlights the internal conflict and moral ambiguity at the heart of the poem, revealing how personal grief can twist into public cruelty.
Shifting Perspectives
The poem’s narrative perspective shifts fluidly between the general’s internal thoughts, the collective voice of the victims, and an omniscient narrator. This shifting perspective allows Dove to create a complex and multi-layered portrayal of the events. In “The Cane Fields,” the collective “we” offers the victims’ experience: “We cannot speak an R out of the swamp.” In “The Palace,” the focus shifts to the general’s twisted internal world, revealing his motivations: “As he paces he wonders Who can I kill today.” This technique forces the reader to confront the perspectives of both the oppressor and the oppressed, challenging them to grapple with the profound moral complexities of the situation.
Use of Spanish
The inclusion of Spanish phrases like “perejil,” “Katalina,” and “mi madre, mi amor en muerte” is profoundly significant. These phrases ground the poem in the specific historical and cultural context of the massacre, adding layers of authenticity and emotional resonance. The word “perejil” itself becomes the pivot of life and death: “The general has found his word: perejil. Who says it lives.” The victims’ song, “Katalina, they sing, Katalina, mi madre, mi amor en muerte,” is a powerful nod to the language and cultural heritage of those targeted, emphasizing that the poem is not a universal tale of violence, but a specific, deeply personal moment in history.
How Each Section Contributes to the Poem’s Meaning
“Parsley” is thoughtfully divided into two distinct sections, “The Cane Fields” and “The Palace,” each contributing uniquely to the poem’s overarching message.
- “The Cane Fields” establishes the setting and immediately immerses the reader in an atmosphere of violence and oppression from the perspective of the victims. The recurring image of the cane fields serves as a powerful symbol of both arduous labor and profound suffering, representing the daily reality and constant threat faced by the Haitian workers. This section introduces the linguistic test and the terror it instills, as seen in the line, “We cannot speak an R out of the swamp.”
- “The Palace” shifts the focus dramatically to the general’s internal world, exploring his motivations, memories, and the twisted psychology behind his brutality. This section reveals the complex psychological factors that contribute to his monstrous actions, linking his personal grief over his mother’s death to his public cruelty. The interweaving of these two sections creates a dynamic tension that drives the poem forward, offering a comprehensive view of the massacre from both the oppressed and the oppressor’s perspectives.
Illustrative Quote and Analysis
For every drop of blood
there is a parrot imitating spring.
(Line 18)
This powerful couplet encapsulates the poem’s central paradox: the jarring juxtaposition of beauty and horror. The “parrot imitating spring” represents a superficial semblance of order, normalcy, or even beauty that masks underlying violence and suffering. It suggests a world where life continues, or appears to continue, even amidst unimaginable cruelty. This image is a chilling reminder that the veneer of civilization can easily conceal barbarity, and that the natural world, or its imitation, can exist in stark, unsettling contrast to human atrocities.
Why This Poem Matters: Enduring Relevance of “Parsley”
“Parsley” transcends a mere historical recounting; it is a powerful and timeless exploration of the human condition. It compels us to confront difficult questions about power, identity, the weaponization of language, and the enduring consequences of violence. By giving voice to the silenced victims of the Parsley Massacre, Rita Dove ensures that their stories are not forgotten, transforming a historical atrocity into a poignant work of art. The poem remains profoundly relevant today, serving as a vital reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, the insidious nature of prejudice, and the critical importance of vigilance in the face of oppression. Its lessons resonate across time, urging readers to reflect on humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and resilience.