Nicolás Guillén: Faithful Helmsman of a Paper Boat

Abstract

This work is a literary analysis of the collection of poems Por el Mar de las Antillas anda un barco de papel written and published by the national poet of Cuba, Nicolás Guillén Batista (1902-1989), better known as Nicolás Guillén. This text is a testimony to Guillen’s poetic talent and his commitment to his land and his people. It was his last work dedicated to children and young people, which is why it is significant in reflecting their social realities in the Caribbean. The collection of poems is rich in symbolism where not only the life of the smallest of the houses is celebrated but also social injustices are criticized and the voice of the poet becomes a symbol of hope. From the results obtained from this work, the literary figures stand out as aesthetic resources and the use of an accessible, cheerful, childlike and often simple language, although loaded with deep meaning with which he managed to transmit complex ideas about identity, suffering and the desires of these peoples for a better future.