Problems with Hurricanes

The campesino’s descriptions of flying bananas and killer mangoes are hyperbolic, meaning that they are humorous exaggerations. Through the use of hyperbole, Cruz presents the campesino’s moral lesson in a humorous way because of how seemingly irreverent the poem’s imagery is. Not only are the images of projectile fruit funny, but so are the consequences that the campesino speaks about: He argues that a flying banana can kill someone and can also lead to the destruction of that person’s legacy for the rest of time, damaging their reputation with their descendants thanks to their “ultimate disgrace” in dying by fruit.

Considering the importance people place on things like legacy, honor, and heritage, the campesino’s warning about dying in a disgraceful way suggests that there is something darkly funny in how easily reputations can be made or unmade. It is also humorous that the campesino takes this advice so seriously: He bows his head and takes off his hat in honor of the wind, yet he does this while telling the speaker to fear flying fruit more than hurricanes themselves.