The historical approach evident in the poem is that it exhibits the people's culture in the Filipino national democratic movement, along with the issue of the struggle for national and social freedom, as well as exile gained because of the invaders. Essentially, it depicts the Filipinos' hope and struggles to gain their freedom from foreign enslavers during that certain historical period. The poem itself is a tribute to the importance of the human element — the "humanity" — in fighting a people's war. Objectively, war, even for a worthy cause, can be demoralizing. As a result, the typical portrayal of the guerilla is that of a toughened individual who has become accustomed to his harsh environment.

The historical criticism that we can see in the poem is that it highlights the ongoing struggle of the Filipino people against foreign and feudal oppression, using natural imagery and lyrical language to create a powerful commentary on the struggle for national liberation and democracy. Poets and artists are seen as guerillas in the revolution, fighting alongside the people with their words and creativity. 

From a historical perspective, "The Guerrilla Is Like a Poet" can be seen as a product of the revolutionary fervor that swept through Latin America in the mid-twentieth century. Cardenal was a prominent figure in the Sandinista movement that overthrew the Nicaraguan government in 1979, and the poem can be seen as an early expression of his political beliefs. The poem celebrates the guerrilla fighter as a hero who stands up to oppression and fights for freedom, just as the poet uses words to challenge the status quo and question authority.


However, the poem can also be read as a critique of the romanticized view of revolution that was prevalent in the Latin American left at the time. While Cardenal celebrates the bravery and determination of the guerrilla fighter, he also acknowledges the personal toll that the fight for revolution can take. The poem speaks of the guerrilla's "loneliness" and "long nights," suggesting that the struggle for freedom is not a romantic adventure, but a grueling and often isolating experience.

From a reader-response perspective, "The Guerrilla Is Like a Poet" can be seen as a powerful and evocative expression of Cardenal's poetic vision. The poem is full of striking imagery and metaphors that invite the reader to see the world in a new way. The comparison between the guerrilla and the poet is a particularly potent one, suggesting that both are engaged in a struggle to reshape the world and create a new reality.

At the same time, the poem can also be read as a call to action, urging the reader to take up the cause of revolution and fight for a better world. The final stanza, with its invocation of "the final triumph," suggests that the struggle for freedom is ongoing, and that the reader has a role to play in bringing it to fruition.

In conclusion, "The Guerrilla Is Like a Poet" is a complex and multifaceted poem that can be read from a variety of perspectives. Whether viewed as a historical artifact, a critique of revolutionary ideology, or a powerful work of poetic expression, the poem remains a compelling and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.

The poem contains historical criticism because it describes how we Filipinos fought the revolutionary struggle for national liberation and democracy against foreign and feudal oppression and exploitation back then. It describes in detail the battles that the Filipinos have faced. The poem also helps readers understand what happened in our country's history and what those who fought for our motherland went through before we could finally have what we have now.

The historical approach evident in the poem is that it was inspired and based from the history inside the country wherein we struggled for justice against brutality and foreign and feudal oppression. This poem shows the multiple difficulties in order to achieve freedom from the invaders' cruelty. It helps the reader to understand and have a knowledge about the challenges of the Filipinos because of the invaders during that time. It shows the process of how we fought against the invaders. The poem emphasizes the similarities in recognition to humanity, using natural imagery and in a lyrical manner. Overall, the poem highlights the guerilla’s determination and sacrificing their life for the sake of other people. 

Jose Maria Sison is a poet who defended the ideals of communism. During the martial law, he was arrested, tortured and was held in solitary confinement for almost 10 years. Sison founded and became chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines in 1969 and organized its military wing – the New People’s Army. Since them, the NPA has used its communistic ideals against the government. In this poem, Sison compares a guerilla to a poet. That is, a guerilla is no less than a poet, what he does may be as noble, or as grave, as that of a poet.

This book is titled after the world-renowned poem of Jose Maria Sison, “The Guerrilla Is Like a Poet,” which celebrates with natural imagery and in a lyrical way the Filipino people’s revolutionary struggle for national liberation and democracy against foreign and feudal oppression and exploitation. This book is titled after the world-renowned poem of Jose Maria Sison, “The Guerrilla Is Like a Poet,” which celebrates with natural imagery and in a lyrical way the Filipino people's revolutionary struggle for national liberation and democracy against foreign and feudal oppression and exploitation.

During martial law, Jose Maria Sison was arrested, tortured, and imprisoned in solitary confinement for nearly ten years. The poem "The Guerilla Is Like a Poet" shows the struggles of people against oppression, exploitation, and lack of rights. 

A guerilla and a poet are related to each other all throughout the poem. In the last verse, he states that they are trying to fight for what they believe in, and if that means going to war for it.

The ideology of the poem is focused on the movement for a change. It is inspired by the revolutionary movement of the Filipinos, just like what Sison experienced himself, during the “dark times”. In November 1977, Sison was arrested and abused during the Marcos administration in which he was held for nine years. He was said to be captured in the mountains which also corresponds to the poem’s setting. His own experiences most likely led him to being a poet and creating the poem itself. 

The author Jose Maria Sison is trying to prove that communism should also be encouraged in our country - the Philippines. During the American colonization, Filipinos helped one another in achieving independence. The author uses different types of figure of speech like simile and metaphor, as indicated by the title "A Guerilla is a Poet," the author compares guerrilla to a poet in this poem. The various visual aspects emphasize what guerillas experience while they are in the forest, such as poetry and being one with nature. The guerillas, like Filipinos, fight for what is right and for what they stand for in this poem. In today's generation, we must fight and stand up for what we believe is right.