Poetry outline

Clem Taus Linog Taboada

I. Background of the Author

a. Marjorie Evasco (born September 21, 1953) is a Filipina poet. She writes in two languages:
English and Cebuano-Visayan and is a supporter of women’s rights, especially of women writers.
Marjorie Evasco is one of the earliest Filipina feminist poets.

II. Background of the text

a. The poem paints a picture of Evasco's disdain for men. She also imagines a large number of
women following a caravan. Evasco just illustrates how women were categorized in earlier
times. It demonstrates how men do not respect the value of women in society.

III. Title: Caravan of the waterbearers

a. The poem paints a picture of Evasco's disdain for men. She also imagines a large number of
women following a caravan.
b. How does the title help in our understanding of the poem - Evasco just illustrates how women
were categorized in earlier times. It demonstrates how men do not recognize the value of
women in society

IV. Summary
a. The poem reflects this “whole self,” which ties to a long tradition and culture of women
considered as water bearers. A caravan is a group of individuals who are all moving in the same
direction. Evasco depicts a band of carriers who arrogantly proclaimed war on the dominant
guy’s dominance.

V. Imagery
a. Visual
 - We will not forget the evil eye Our vision cleans our weeping We see the blur of broken
earth
b. Tactile
- Pretending our tears are daughters of the wind

VI. Symbols
a. Weeping – to express deep sorrow for usually by shedding tears
b. Trek of desert – the activity of walking long distances on foot for pleasure

VII. Figures of Speech

a. Hyperbole
- We see the blur of broken earth”
- “Blasted wasted, damned seas”
- “We have to seek the center of the storm”
b. Personification
- “When man’s flesh, muscle, bone, knife woman.”
c. Paradox
- “Blowing across no-woman’s-land.”

VIII. Sounds
a. Onomatopoeia
- Of desert women, humped over
b. Consonance
- Blasted wasted, damned seas

IX. Rhyme
a. Blasted wastes damned seas
In the clay pots of our lives
Our daughters and sons
X. Rhythm
a. Blas/ted/ was/tes/ damn/ed /sea/s.
In/ the/ clay /pots/ of/ our /live/s.
Our/ daugh/ters/ and/ son/s.

XI. Theme
A. Freedom, Rights

b. The poem reflects that “integrated self” that connects to a whole tradition and culture
of women tagged as water bearers. A caravan is a group of travelers moving towards one
path, one goal. Evasco depicts a group of carriers who revealed with certainty a war
against the rule of the dominant male.