The piece is broken into two parts, I and II, which clearly defines there being two speakers. Each section presents a different version of the same game—the first is from the masculine perspective where the female is “the Mexican maid” (3) whom he can sexually assault because he has boots, handcuffs, and a gun (15-17). The second is the female perspective where, despite the patrol man’s power, his “jeep has a flat” (22) and he doesn’t speak Spanish so he’s unable to interpret the woman saying where there is water.
Straightforwardly the speakers present themselves as young since they’re playing a game. Furthermore, there’s the hesitation of the boy not knowing exactly his weapons beyond his masculinity. He shows this saying, “Oh, and [I have] a gun” (17). Because of his age he doesn’t completely understand the sexuality he’s mentioning. Instead of referring to assault he minimizes it to the ability to touch her wherever he wants. This also shows a child’s curiosity of the anatomy of the opposite sex.
Readers may interpret the speakers as adult because of the intense subject matter. However, children are more aware of violence than they should be and I don’t think it’s unlikely for them to play a sexualized game. Our society is widely conservative and desexualizes children, but that’s not necessarily true. Therefore this poem is a good representation of how children do interpret sex.
The poem shows a scenario for female empowerment which I believe Mora projects onto a young girl to symbolize hope for the next generation. The phrase, “Oh, I am not alone” (30) shows the solidarity the girl is already beginning to conceptualize in her female elders. Also, “Get ready” (37) shows how the situation is being changed. The poem was published in the second wave of feminism which shows the hopefulness of the author.
Finally I believe Mora wrote about children because it adds essential meaning to the poem—if the speakers were adult the poem merely talks about the risk of sexual assault because of border controversy, but as children the meaning expands to include the crucial influence this violence has on the development and understanding of gender roles that children develop.
The poem could be interpreted from either perspective, but it’s more meaningful if the reader assumes the juvenility of the speakers. The dialogue is childish and the situations are real. Children understand the taboo differently than adults and therefore have made a game of this horrific, realistic situation.
