This study on the poetry of Roberto McKay deals with the investigation and interpretation of a series of poems belonging to his work Tobango, which explore diverse dilemmas that illustrate a complex theme: the incessant struggle between life and death. The objective is to examine the literary figures present in
McKay's poems from different levels of analysis: literary, phonic or phonological, morphosyntactic, semantic and logical. Likewise, a thematic evaluation of the poems that make up Tobango is carried out. Methodologically, this research is of a qualitative, descriptive, documentary, literary and linguistic nature, focused on the analysis and interpretation of the meanings acquired by certain rhetorical figures in different social contexts. In addition, emphasis is placed on the emotions, feelings and perceptions that emerge during the reading of these poems, aspects that leave an indelible mark on the interlocutors. The findings show that McKay's poetry pays homage to the different states of humanity and to the challenges that affect the Panamanian population on a daily basis. In conclusion, his work seeks to awaken in the reader both the interest and the need to find the truth, in order to face, in a constant and decisive way, the harshness of reality.
