In her latest work “Copy,” Mexican poet Dolores Dorantes explores the themes of displacement, violence, and identity through fragmented prose poems. Raised in Ciudad Juárez and now living in the United States after seeking asylum in 2011, Dorantes delves into the repercussions of displacement and reproduction.
She intertwines the concepts of copying, abundance, and reproduction in her poems, using repetition and anaphora to layer meaning. The book is structured with sections that start with black pages featuring Spanish dictionary entries, urging readers to examine how language constructs meaning and relationships between words. Dorantes’s writing mirrors the terseness of dictionary entries, echoing their bluntness and repetition.
“Copy” delves into complex themes such as identity and power dynamics, challenging readers to navigate the tensions between collective good and structural power. Through abrupt shifts in meaning and repeated phrases, Dorantes invites readers to explore the multifaceted displacements portrayed in the book.
Drawing on Latin American activist-poetry traditions, Dorantes situates her work in sociological and philosophical discourse rather than the mythic. She prompts readers to fill in blanks and engage actively with the text, suggesting that interpretations are endless and open to continual interrogation.
