Here's why:
* Focus on emotion and personal reflection: The poem explores the speaker's feelings and thoughts about an aging man, reflecting on themes of mortality, memory, and the passage of time. This focus on inner experience is a hallmark of lyric poetry.
* Use of figurative language: Sánchez employs imagery, metaphors, and symbolism to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts. For example, he compares the old man to a "tree" and his memories to "leaves" that have fallen.
* Musicality: The poem has a rhythmic structure and use of language that creates a musical effect, enhancing its emotional impact.
While the poem also touches on social commentary and the experiences of a particular group (Mexican-Americans), its primary focus is on the emotional and personal journey of the speaker, making it fall under the broader umbrella of lyric poetry.