Symbolism
The lullaby in the second scene foreshadows events to come.
La Nana
Suegra: This is the lullaby, my child, of the great horse who didn’t want the water. The water was dark through the tangled branches. When the horse arrived at the bridge, he stopped and sang. What will he say, my child, that which has the water, with his long tail in the green pen?
Mujer: Sleep carnation, the horse does not want to drink.
Suegra: Sleep rosebush. The horse begins to cry. His hooves are injured, his mane is frozen, and in his eyes are silver daggers. His eyes lower to the river. Oh, how they lower to the river. Blood flows much stronger than water.
Mujer: Sleep carnation, the horse does not want to drink.
Suegra: Sleep rosebush, the horse begins to cry.
Mujer: He does not want to touch the wet edge of his hot lip with silver flies. Despite the hard mounts he only whinnies at the dead river. Oh the big horse did not want the water. Oh the pain of the snow, the horse of dawn.
Suegra: Don’t come further! Stop. Close the window with the branches of dreams, and dream of branches.
Mujer: My son sleeps.
Suegra: My son is quiet.
Mujer: The horse, my son, has no pillow.
Suegra: His cradle is of steel.
Mujer: His bedspread is of holanda (very fine cloth).
Suegra: Lullaby my child, lullaby.
Mujer: Oh, the big horse didn’t want the water!
Suegra: Don’t come further, don’t enter! Look to the mountains, to the grey valleys of the ponies.
Mujer: My son sleeps.
Suegra: My son has fallen asleep.
Mujer: Sleep carnation, the horse does not want to drink.
Suegra: Sleep rosebush, the horse begins to cry.
Read more about this topic: Blood Wedding (play)
Famous quotes containing the word symbolism:
“...I remembered the rose bush that had reached a thorny branch out through the ragged fence, and caught my dress, detaining me when I would have passed on. And again the symbolism of it all came over me. These memories and visions of the poor—they were the clutch of the thorns. Social workers have all felt it. It holds them to their work, because the thorns curve backward, and one cannot pull away.”
—Albion Fellows Bacon (1865–1933)