On Animals and Internal Voices: Nine Poems by Chrystian Zegarra

Abstract

Chrystian Zegarra, a distinguished Peruvian scholar and professor based in the United States, crafts poetry that transports readers to unforeseen realms and situations. His work showcases a remarkable ability to embody diverse voices, transcending the already intricate manipulation of lyrical language. This selection of his poetry spans Zegarra’s recent past and present, tracing his poetic journey from its origins in the late 1990s with the Inmanencia poetic collective. It encompasses a collection of poems from Animal(x)s, published in 2021, alongside three pieces from his upcoming work, Parvedad de alpiste. Animal(x)s aligns with a growing literary trend that prominently features animals, challenging anthropocentric perspectives. The poems from Parvedad de alpiste reveal a poetic voice that observes scenes from an external vantage point. This poetic voice speaks about himself with uncompromising honesty, culminating each poem with profoundly impactful images that resonate long after reading.