We have reached the end of this summer section, in which we share the work of some writers from Tunisia, most of them not so well known, but with a worthy creation and a promising future. In this way, it only remains to invite you to approach the work of these and other authors, because our culture would not be the same without their inspirational writers.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Among the fond memories I have of Jessica González Smith is the time when she said that one of her dreams is to publish a book, and, as a writer, that struck a chord with me. Hence, I sought to read her poetry, to find that spark that would show me that one day she would fulfill her dream and leave her ink mark on history.
Someone once told me that one of the writer's jobs was to be a chronicler of our times through literature. I have come to believe this, and even more, to feel it necessary, indispensable. However, it is not easy to transform pain, bad moments, and mistakes into joy, much less into beauty; that is precisely the most difficult thing the poet has to do. And it is what the poet in question does best and naturally. Her texts are precise, raw, and unafraid to use the resources of language, and techniques and play with the register of the lyrical subject, always in pursuit of a novel idea, of a space in which to leave her mark.
Something I liked about his poetry was the journey into the interior of the poet/lyric subject. She looks inside and sees her mistakes, but also her achievements. Jessica looks for poetry in which she shows that character who does not give up, who draws courage, and strength, stands up and triumphs in the face of every obstacle; and by obstacle, I mean "life". The author does not hesitate to sacrifice herself to get her message across.
One might think of her poetry as "feminist"; however, I would label it as "woman"; for this word means strength itself, immortal. Verses such as "Tomorrow I'll be careful not to step on my absence / I don't want to find myself dying on any glass waiting to be sold" are an example of this.
With direct and clear language, interesting metaphors, and analogies, Jessica presents us with images that are not meant to be comfortable for everyone. The writer pursues the beauty that lies beneath the hard surface of reality as we see it. That reality that many of us can relate to.
Perhaps that is the most interesting, the most representative, and the strongest point of this young poet. Jessica is still molding a work, as strong as it is necessary, among excellent potters from Las Tunas. The hearth is lit, the raw material of quality, only time and effort are lacking. But I have faith that her mark will be left for our delight.
