The Armadillo

The pulsing of the fire in the balloons is compared to beating “hearts” (Line 8). The flame “comes and goes” (Line 8), like heartbeats. These hearts represent the people who send off fire balloons as part of Festa Junina. This symbol is developed through the rhyme of Line 6 with Line 8—“these parts” rhymes with “like hearts.” This connects the location, or these parts, with the people who inhabit them and engage in rituals each year. The hearts of these people are lifted by celebrating the saint’s day. In this way, the symbol of hearts develops A Sense of Place. The color of hearts is also significant, as it is related to the fire—both are red. Reddish tones appear on the owls and the armadillo as well. The owls are “stained bright pink underneath” (Line 27) and the armadillo is “rose-flecked” (Line 32). This color motif connects human hearts with animal hearts; the latter of which suffers despite the joy of the former.

The fire balloons are compared to various celestial bodies, including stars and planets. This resemblance between the human-made balloons and the heavenly bodies is initially positive, illustrating how the fire balloons are beautiful against the night sky: