Of the four works attributed to Pinar, "
Canción de una dama que dice Florencia Pinar" (Song by a Dame Called Florencia Pinar), "
Glosa de Florencia" (Florencia's Gloss), "
Cancion de Florencia Pinar" (Song of Florencia Pinar), "
and Otra canción de la misma señora a unas perdices que le enviaron vivas" (Another Song of the Same Lady About Some Partridges Sent to Her Alive), the latter is the most well known for its
symbolism and hidden themes: Florencia del Pinar original Destas aves su nación Es contar con alegría, Y de vellas en prisión Siento yo grave pasión, Sin sentir nadie a mía. Ellas lloran que se vieron Sin temor de ser cativas, Y a quien eran más esquivas Esos mismos las prendier Sus nombres mi vida son Que va perdiendo alegría, Y de vellas en prisión Siento yo grave pasión, Sin sentir nadie a mía. Julie Allen translation These birds were born Singing for joy, Such softness imprisoned Gives me such sorrow--- Yet no one weeps for me. They cry that they flew Fearless of capture And those whom shunned Were those who seized them: Their names write my life Which goes on, losing joy; Such softness imprisoned Gives me such sorrow--- Yet no one weeps for me. Samantha Pious translation These birds were born to sing with joy in flying free. For them, encaged, I ache with rage but no one mourns for me. They cry to find themselves enslaved to masters whom they used to scorn. The very men they hated most can purchase them and take them home. In their names I write my life, which goes on losing liberty. For them, encaged, I ache with rage but no one mourns for me. It is in this work that Pinar shows her ability to play with language and create conceits (
conceptismo), by showing love's dual role of providing both pleasure and pain. Also evident is her characteristic use of indirect sexual allusions. During this time period
partridges served as an archetype of
female promiscuity because female partridges are easily impregnated birds. This playful use of symbolism is one of the distinguishing features of Pinar's poetry. The prevailing theme of her poetry is love, but there is also much ambiguity in her tone. Throughout the centuries, scholars have often speculated about whether this love about which she so frequently writes is
platonic or sexual in nature. However, there is a very prominent discussion about Pinar's own feelings of entrapment within her poems. The encaged bird is clearly a reflection of Pinar herself as she chooses to twice repeat the lines "Yet no one weeps for me" even as she is reflecting on the partridge. This consistent repetition highlights not only her sadness and isolation, but also ensures that the reader returns to the idea that the bird is a metaphor for her own capture. In her Cancione de Florencia Pinar, Pinar also delves into a discussion on love. She compares love to a worm that has burrowed its way into the body and likens love to a "cancer of nature who devours all the healthy flesh" (lines 7 - 8) right before harshly stating that "if he enters one's entrails he can leave only by tearing them out" (lines 11 – 12). These images are all very graphic, but allow the reader to clearly visualize her view on love. Her writing is clearly very evocative and fleshes out the painful paradox of love. == Editions ==