Flor de Retama

The song 'Flor de Retama' by Martina Portocarrero is a poignant Peruvian folk ballad that resonates with the themes of struggle, resistance, and memory. The lyrics evoke the imagery of the retama flower, a yellow bloom that grows in the Andean region of South America. The repetition of 'Amarillito, amarillando' (little yellow, yellowing) alongside the mention of the flower symbolizes the persistent and resilient nature of life and hope amidst adversity.

The song references a specific historical event, the massacre in the town of Huanta, where government forces, known as 'Sinchis', violently suppressed a student and peasant protest during the internal conflict in Peru. The 'Plazuela de Huanta' becomes a site of both tragedy and defiance, where the blood of the people is metaphorically transformed into the blooming of the retama flower. This transformation suggests that the sacrifices made are not in vain and that the spirit of the people will continue to flourish.

The latter part of the song describes the blood of the people as having a 'rich perfume', likening it to the scent of various flowers but also to 'gunpowder and dynamite'. This juxtaposition of beauty and violence captures the essence of the protest: the desire for peace and growth alongside the explosive need for change and revolution. The exclamation '¡Carajo!' (Damn it!) emphasizes the frustration and anger felt by those who resist oppression.