Benjamin Alire Saenz's "To the Desert" has been long debated whether it was written as a love poem, or one of a religious connotation. Personally, I believe it is one of a religious aspect. This can be seen through the writer's history and the symbolic words chosen In the poem, the speaker is Saenz, and he is symbolically speaking to God, as the desert is used in place of God.
Saenz was a Roman Catholic priest for three years. This New Mexican native also wrote a book, called Dark and Perfect Angels, which contains poems describing his priesthood and the landscape of the Southwest territory of the United States. Because of his past writings, we can see a trend of religion through the landscape of the southwest, typically known for its deserts. "To the Desert" is also an example of his writing style. One can also see the religious aspect in this poem through the specific words and phrases chosen.
This poem shows a love for the desert, and essentially the creator of that desert (God), through the words and phrases chosen. "Thirst" is one example of such a word. The desert, known for dryness, hot weather, and a lack of water, creates an importance of water to survive in such a region. The speaker describes how he came to the desert on a "rainless August night" and how the desert (Nature = God) taught him "how to live without the rain." The speaker continues, saying "You are thirst and thirst is all I know." The speaker continues to describe the landscape and the heat of the desert, but begins speak profoundly for his love for the desert (God). .
"You reach -then bend.
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.".
The words starting from "bend" are intentionally italicized to create the importance of the power of God to break, blow, and create new life. The speaker also explains how God keeps him warm and how he was born for Him, as he was a priest during that time to serve God.
