Spliced_Wire

Spliced Wire by Jimmy Santiago Baca “Spliced Wire” is a very intense poem that tells a story of a man loving his wife to the fullest and then it leads to the disappointment of a break up. “Spliced Wire” was written by Jimmy Santiago Baca. He was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jimmy had a rough childhood. He was on the streets which led to him going to prison for drugs. While in prison he began to write poetry. Electricity is a repeated image used in association with love between two people. Within this poem he says “I filled your house with light. There was warmth in all corners” (Baca, 2009, lines 1-2). These lines elucidate his affection towards her. It shows unity within their relationship. In this poem, the relationship between two people is so deep it can be a symbol of a warm home. He also says “My words I gave you like soft warm toast in early morning.” (Baca, 2009, lines 3-4) This is representing his devotion to her and uses the phrase “soft warm toast in the early morning” to show the wonderful feeling she should feel when he speaks of words about his love for her. In the third stanza, he wrote “I brought reception clear to you and made the phone ring at your request” (Baca, 2009, Lines 11-12). This symbolizes how he did everything for her and on her demand. Electricity is a symbol of this because electricity flows through phones. This shows he shares every piece of him with her. In the fifth stanza, is when everything starts to go downhill. He says “And then you turned away, wanted a larger mansion. I said no. I left you” (Baca, 2009, Lines 19-20). This resembles her betrayal. She wanted more than what he was giving her. He said no and their relationship fell apart. He then says “The plug pulled out, the house blinked out, into a quiet darkness, swallowing wind, collecting autumn leaves like stamps between its old boards where they stick” (Baca, 2009, Lines 21-24). This is an indication of his disappointment of their break up. It shows his loneliness. He doesn’t know what to do because of how much he truly felt for that woman. In the sixth stanza, he suggests “You say, or carry the thought with you to comfort you, that faraway somewhere, lightning knocked down all the power lines. But no my love, it was I, pulling the plug” (Baca, 2009, Lines 25-29). He feels that she blames their break up on him but really it was her fault. He did everything possible and she wanted more than that. Her selfishness would be the lightning and his love for her was the power lines. She knocked him down. In the seventh stanza, he says “Others will come, plug in, but often the lights will dim weakly in storms, the music stop to a drawl, the warmth shredded by cold drafts.” (Baca, 2009, Lines 29-32). He suggests that he will move on to someone who will love him the way he loved her. He still seems to think about it at times. He mourns over the break up but will continue to live his life. This poem is a great masterpiece. I can picture and feel his pain. I have been through this before and can relate to everything Jimmy Santiago Baca has said in his poem. Let me remind you that Jimmy had a rough childhood and taught his self how to read and write. He began poetry while in prison. Now he is an instructor in poetry workshops. He even conducts workshops at the prisons, universities, etc. References: Baca, Jimmy S. “Spliced Wire.” Literature A World of Writing. Ed. Thomas L. Pike and Ana M. Acosta. New             York: Pearson Education, 2009.