New Man in an Old Body
When one is young, learning how to read and write is always a challenge. Now imagine being a young adult and teaching one’s self how to read and write. Jimmy Baca the author of “Coming into Language”, not only learned how to read as a young adult but undertook this goal in an inadequate environment. Through a poetic perspective, Jimmy Baca’s isolation lead him to a reborn self. Baca utilizes tone and understatement to help express his journey through his multiple transformations.
Baca’s limitations left him feeling trapped and insecure, which affected him long term. From the age of seven Baca had been not only ridiculed but also punished by his teacher’s in school. Teachers would have him stick his nose “in a circle chalked on the blackboard” as punishment for not knowing the lesson plans (53). This constant embarrassment left him in an isolated state of confusion. He explains that he is “Ashamed of not understanding and fearful of asking questions” (53). These insecurities left him in the dark when if came to learning. Due to his unhealthy experiences in school he felt the only thing left to do was to drop out. Dropping out in the ninth grade took a major toll in his life; in the sense that he could still not read at the age of seventeen. Being a young adult and still unable to read Baca was unable to express himself. This humiliating was the start of his downfall.
Understatement is used to express Baca’s first transformation to a state of interest literature. In a casual understatement Baca explains that he used to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital, a place where he would mop “up pools of blood and carting plastic bags stuffed with arms, legs and hands to the outdoor incinerator” (52). The severity of his actions did not match the tone of his writing. Baca described the atmosphere of where he worked in a very blasé way. The reader senses a change or transformation in Baca when he starts to talk about certain language in books. While in jail he was read to be fellow inmates, for the first time in his writing his tone changes and the reader starts to recognize figurative language. Baca expresses himself by saying while in jail he has never “felt such freedom as in that dormitory” (53). The jail was a comfortable non judgmental place where he could enjoy himself and not get ridiculed or punished for not knowing lessons. As the reader continues one finds that Baca’s passion for literature grows and so does the way he expresses it through text. Leaving behind understatement Baca describes his jail reading experiences in a renowned way. While the inmates read Baca felt as though “Their language was the magic that could liberate me from myself” (53). His passion for language had only just begun and he had finally found a place where he felt secure enough to put in the effort to learn how to read. Jail was his safe place, he finally felt free.
Overtime literature became the core of Jimmy’s life. Being in and out of jail for year’s, books and poetry became his only constant and soon turned into his obsessive. Baca’s obsession with literature progressed to such an extent that he told the prison captain he would “never do any work in this prison system as long as I am not allowed to get me G.E.D” (55). This in the eyes of the reader can be recognized as the second transformation because he is putting everything on the line just to continue to do what he loves. After getting put in maximum security he was in his cell 23 hours of the day Baca became “possessed” with poetry and writing. He even went to the extent of making his own journal out of a box of cardboard that once held his belongings in it (55). Many months went by and Baca’s obsession began to take a toll on his life. He stopped reading and writing, he instead slept all the time (56). He had worn himself out. Although part of him still fought and wanted to continue his lessons and writing his body rejected all thought of it. Literature had taken over his life that after year he finally went outside and was able to feel the fresh grass and the warmth of the sun (56). He had been a prisoner not only literally but also figuratively had been a prisoner of words.
Baca regained clarity in his life when he understood his limitations. Although Baca came to the realization that his life was completed by reading and writing he could not overdo himself or push limits. The darkness that had been trapped inside of him for so long had been released. He felt as though the darkness “forced me to re-form and give birth to myself again in the chaos” (56). He realized here that although he was doing what he loved he could not revolve his life around it. He needed to make time for all activities. Language had given him the confidence and the ability to express himself. He describes that is disbelief and self doubt was cured by poetry. Poetry had given him the ability to express emotions he had not expressed before. Through literature Baca “discovered empathy and compassion” (57). Baca truly became a new man.
By overcoming his unfortunate upbringing, Baca positively reinforced his quality of life. He has published many books, memoirs, essays, stories and screenplays (Baca). One of his screenplays, Bound by Honor (1993) was even turned into a full length film (Baca). Through Baca’s struggle he was able to reflect on his hardship and publish his pieces. Many of his works were inspired by his jail sentences reflecting on the social justice system. One of his more well known pieces, “Immigrants in Our Own Land (1979, 1991) was Baca’s first significant collection, one based on his imprisonment” (Baca). Without his life struggle Baca wouldn’t not have become the man he is today. Each experience he endured gave him more passion to read and write.
Baca’s experience, through life, helped shape the man he has become today. Throughout his journey, Baca found ways to cope with the rigorous environment to ultimately benefit from his experience. Literature helped guide Baca through the darkness presented in his life. His isolation led him to grasp a more complete appreciation for reading and writing.

Work Cited

Baca, Jimmy S. “Coming into Language.” Writing as Revision. Ed. Beth Alvarado and Barbara Cully. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2011. 52-57. Print.
"Jimmy Santiago Baca." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, Web. 04 Oct. 2015.