Décimas

Elizabeth Morris's song 'Décimas' is a poignant exploration of loss, confusion, and defiance. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey through desolate landscapes, both literal and metaphorical. The opening lines, 'De nuevo perdí la ruta / Navego por los desiertos / Camino por mares muertos,' set the tone for a narrative of wandering and searching. The imagery of navigating deserts and dead seas suggests a sense of aimlessness and despair, as if the speaker is lost in a barren, lifeless world. This could symbolize a personal or emotional crisis, where the usual paths and landmarks of life have disappeared, leaving only uncertainty and sorrow.

The song continues with the theme of darkness and mourning, 'La noche entera se enluta / El sol se metió en su gruta.' Here, the night is personified as being in mourning, and the sun has retreated into its cave, emphasizing the depth of the speaker's despair. The line 'Yo soy un nervio de atados / Un llanto largo y profundo' further intensifies this feeling, portraying the speaker as a bundle of nerves and a long, deep cry. This vivid imagery conveys a profound sense of emotional turmoil and exhaustion, possibly from a relationship that has grown weary and burdensome.

In the final stanza, the song takes a turn towards defiance and a desire for respite. 'Que al fin la mala fortuna / Se vaya a dormir un rato' expresses a wish for bad luck to take a break, to forget about the speaker's existence. The declaration of 'desacato' or defiance against the sentence of misfortune is a powerful statement of resistance. Despite the overwhelming sense of loss and confusion, there is a spark of rebellion and a refusal to be completely defeated by circumstances. This blend of sorrow and defiance makes 'Décimas' a deeply moving and relatable piece, capturing the complexities of human emotion in the face of adversity.