With Antonio Lopez’s poem Triptych of the Adobe-Cotta Army, it drives deep into the theme of gentrification as it details the processed rebuilding and remodeling of a poor neighborhood with its community endanger of the outcome that may come, but through personification, symbolism, and imagery, Lopez illustrates the battle the locals have risen up fight against but not lasting for long. Lopez incorporates an exclusive style of the poem as through the title of “Triptych,” it is defined as a three part piece as by looking at the poem, it is separated into three parts which presents a new direction and tool of poetry.
By looking at the first part of the poem. Lopez begins, “My fingers desperate / to unearth the ruins / of my countrymen” as he personifies the desperation of discovering within the ruins of their home that included the local people who lived by that area. Gentrification is a very distinguishable change to a community as it wipes away the culture and “visual” negative aspects of an area that make it true to the people who have lived their whole lives, but the change is what takes them away from the reality of their home to impress higher class people. Lopez having lived in East Palo Alto has probably witnessed such striving of gentrification as he mentions, Tesla / on the second floor of our apartment / — now a parking garage” as the Tesla company being a big contributor the the gentrification of certain areas by taking home space of families and locals. Explains who is causing this issue that is affecting many locals as if they can not fight against the big companies of Tesla and Amazon as they take over their area without much of a say to those who respect the city.
Through the second part of the poem, Lopez opens the relationship between the saviors and the locals of such areas when clashing. Lopez describes, “hooded saints / tore the covenant / of earthly silence” where Lopez identifies the villains who are masked as those “saints” that will help the neighbor their their plans, but they destroy the city as breaking the universal agreement of not letting the changes affect the families and locals who have submerge their roots into the city. It’s as if they are to “preach” to the community as they try justifying their actions and decisions for the best of the city and people, but many people who do not think the same. As those people who are greatly affected are those protecting the poverty line of the city, Lopez describes “pressed / against my lips / a cholo’s chalice” where he forced to hear and understand the struggles of those front he tough areas of the city. Up for the fight, Lopez states, A fist tucked / inside a hoodie” where it demonstrates the hidden anger and frustrations the people must feel as their homes are taken away and their city changes that gentrification brings without their knowing but wanting to risk everything to take back their city.
WIth the final part of the poem, Lopez portrays the heroes who risk everything to protect their home and community as they become soldiers in this endless battle of gentrification. Lopez mentions, “Consider the clothesline as a bandolier / sling over the ruined soldiers, / whose uniformes still cling / onto apartment balconies” as he makes the comparison of the clothesline to their bandolier that holds the ammunition over their shoulders as they are to dress to go to war against the gentrification. Lopez symbolizes the locals who wanted to fight against the battle as the soldiers, but they have let their burning spirit of taking back their city die as they give up the fight and hang up their uniforms.
Lopez explores a different direction of poetry to better develop his main idea of the battle of gentrification because through the personification, symbolism and imagery, he demonstrates the to challenge the politics of gentrification as they are to being against the big corporations and locals losing their courage of speak back towards the gentrification.
Naraint Catalan Rios
Introduction to Poetry 