It may be necessary for you to post your essay in two parts. Please make sure it is labelled accordingly as Part 1 and Part 2. Make sure your name is included on both parts. If you are using an email account belonging to a friend, remember to indicate that it's your work. Also, make sure you comment on two essays. Read your classmate's work completely before you comment on the work. Please use the rubric from your packet to respond to the work. Saying that the essay was good is not enough. Thank you.
You guys are awesome!
Ieasha Williams
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmangels
5-30-14
English
Jimmy Santiago Baca: The Latin Poet
Jimmy Santiago Baca was born January 2, 1952 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jimmy grew up in a low-income family. At the age of two, Jimmy’s parents abandon him, and left his grandmother to take on the role as his guardian. As time went by, Jimmy was placed in an orphanage. With nowhere to go and no one to turn, to he began to proceed down the wrong path in life. At the age of 21, Baca was arrested for drug possession. Baca was sentence to Arizona’s State prison for 5 years. Within the 5 years Baca served, he developed a passion for poetry. Baca writes about persecution, love and migration. In his poem “Oppression”, “I am offering this Poem”, and “Accountability”. In “Oppression,” Jimmy Santiago Baca uses similes to compare to unrelated things using the words “like” or “as”. In “I am offering this Poem” he uses similes to describe the comparison between two unrelated things. Using the word “like” or “as” helps gives your sentence a better degree in its meaning. In his poem “Accountability” he uses allusion to describe examples of people to indicate the sort of qualities that appear to us.
In the poem “Oppression” Jimmy use similes in his poem to demonstrate the comparison between the new grass and the years of change that goes by using the word “like” .The poem “Oppression” Jimmy explains to reader how they need to stay strong, and keep hoping change will come. He starts off his poem by explaining “Is a question of strength, of unshed tears, of being trampled under, and always, always remembering you are human.” In this first stanza the message I received was that oppression is a question of strength, and no matter all the pain you undergo always remember you’re human. I think the audience Jimmy was referring to in this poem is anyone who lives Latin America, and who has experienced harassment in their country or neglect from their government. In stanza two and three Baca continues to explain the issue of oppression. He says “Look deep to find the grains of hope and strength, and sing, my brothers and sisters … and sing. The sun will share your birthdays with you behind bars, the new spring grass.” These two stanza expressed the hope Baca wants the readers to keep holding on to. At the time period in Latin America, Poverty was growing excessively. Many people had no money, no food, no shelter, and with the governments neglect it made matters worse. This only left citizens of Latin America with only hope. Hope that their prayers will be answered. Hope that the change they begged for was soon eventually to come. In the last stanza Baca closes up his poem by saying “like fiery spears will count your years, as you start into the next year; endure my brothers, endure my sisters.” This is where the poet uses a literary device to make a comparison between two unrelated things. Baca used the literary device simile to undergo the true feelings he wanted the reader to experience. He wanted to create a vision for readers to see his perspective living in Latin America. The word “like” was used to describe the time that goes past. The spears is used to explain the year that passes by. What I got out of Oppression is that it was Jimmy Santiago Baca way of speaking out on injustice. On how thing as a community, and as a country needs to be organized.
In his poem “I am offering this Poem” he uses the literary device simile to express his love, and the reason for him writing this poem to the readers. In stanza 1 he begins to state “I am offering this poem to you, since I have nothing else to give. Keep it like a warm coat when winter comes to cover you, or like a pair of thick socks the cold cannot bite through… I love you”. The author wrote this poem to explain the love he has for someone. He use simile to describe the love he has. When he says “Keep it like a warm coat when winter comes to cover you, or like a pair of thick socks the cold cannot bite through.” This meant he wanted the one he loves to cherish this poem, and keep close to he/she heart. In Latin American it was different. It wasn’t like todays day and age, where you express your love by showering the one you love with gifts. The Latin Americans didn’t have much, but they managed to hold on through love. Love and Hope were the only things they had and were guaranteed they wouldn’t leave their side. In stanza 2 and 3 the author continues to explain “I have nothing else to give you, so it is a pot full of yellow corn, to warm your belly in winter… Keep it, treasure this as you would if you were lost, needing direction in the wilderness life becomes when mature… I love you” from these stanzas interpreted that the love he had and the poem he has will embark on the one he loves.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem “Accountability” he uses allusion to describe examples of people to indicate the sort of qualities that appear to us, and who we are. The poem is about how who we are and what we do as individuals. The author uses allusion by using the bill collector as an example to describe who we are and what we do. In the poem the author says “a bill collector who offers a paper to sign and says we have no choice but to sign it. In it we read who we are- we should change this paragraph, or the color of our hair, or the time we took a trip, or the women we met in a coffee shop… “Sign it” he says “I have many others to see today”. The bill collector is a representation of the Latin American government who gives the people no say on how thing is read. The paper that the bill collect presents is orders from the government that Latin Americans citizen has to follow. In that they read who they are. Although they might suggest some changes they are forced to sign the paper given to them.
Baca writes about persecution, love and migration. He reaches out to readers so that they are able to understand the perspective the writer is coming from. Baca uses the literary devices to create the vision of injustice, and love that he undergoes as a citizen Latin American.
the way you explained the literary elements was really good and you kept the reader interested
DeleteInteresting essay. You did a great job at keeping the reader entertained and you explained the literary elements extremely well.
DeleteI love how you compared the scenes with the literary elements to show the author purpose of the poem,and how the time period influenced the poem.My favorite part of your essay is your second paragraph. As a reader reading the second paragraph what I got from it was the authors purpose it that in Latin America many citizen experienced neglect form the government.
DeleteKyra Nix
ReplyDeleteJune 3, 2014
Ms. Desmangles
Poetry Analysis Part 1
Martin Espada~ poet of justice
Works of art often reflect an author's direct life experiences. Martin Espada is a Latin American poet and writer who expresses the themes of society’s racial prejudice to various cultures, political and social unfairness and oppression. These themes are repeatedly found in Martin Espada's works. Three examples of such works are "My Native Costume", "Nigger Lips" and "Heart of Hunger". The works express these themes through the use of imagery, simile and metaphors.
"Poetry doesn't have to be an absurd, meaningless gesture... Poetry can be a matter of faith, trust, and justice." Martin Espada was born in Brooklyn, New York and is of Puerto Rican heritage. His introduction to politics through his activist father at an early age influenced his political outlook.
In "My Native Costume" Martin Espada uses slight humor and narration to show the theme of cultural difference and unfairness. Although he was a lawyer he was forced to wear the typical "guayaberas". This poem shows that society forces ones culture upon them. "When you come to visit, said a teacher from the suburban school, don't forget to wear your native costume." A person can be of a specific heritage and not embrace its culture. Being an American with Puerto Rican heritage Martin Espada never fully assimilated to either culture. "But I'm a lawyer, I said. My native costume is a pinstriped suit. You know, the teacher said, a Puerto Rican costume." Society has a preconceived idea on how a person of a certain heritage should be or act. The poem illustrates the stereotypical side of living in America as an immigrant or person of foreign heritage.
I love the your introduction, and conclusion it ties everything together
DeleteSabrina Garcia
ReplyDeleteLatin American Literature
Ms. Desmangles
June 2, 2014
Sandra Maria Estevez Poetry Analysis (part one)
Sandra Maria Estevez a Latin American poet who was born in the south Bronx created many poems about her experiences from when she was a little girl till now. The education she was given during her early years in catholic school would not allow her to speak her native and dominant language Spanish and made her change it to English. She was only able to speak Spanish when she got home so she could talk to her family members that didn’t speak English. She had to divide herself from her heritage and the national language for many years, which is shown through her work. She combines her personal life with and her family’s heritage to create her poetry with personifications, similes, and repetition that is how she makes it relatable to the Latino culture. There are three poems that have one common theme which is music but its also has underlying themes such as family and race. These three poems “In the Beginning”, “Spirit Dance” and last but not least “Mambo Love Poem” all express the Spanish music in different ways.
Just from the title “In the Beginning” it is easy to know that the title is hinting to the start of something you have to read to poem to understand what is staring. The poem was about the start of a family even if the family is personified through Spanish instruments it’s still a family. In the first stanza “ in the beginning was a sound, like the universe exploding, it came, took form, gave life, and was called Conga”, just from this stanza you can infer that the poem is about the beginning of music and not just any music, mambo music. In other stanzas it speaks about other Spanish instruments as if they where alive being born, wanting a partner or a child to create a whole family or a whole Spanish instrument band. For example the third stanza “and Quinto said, give me female, there came Compana, and Bajo said: give me son, there came Bongoses” in that stanza you can tell Quinto was a man looking for a partner and Bajo was a man looking for a son his heir. The theme in this poem is music but has multiple minor themes such as love and family. You can see that Sandra was raised with Spanish music as a major influence in her life by the way she made them become alive.
(part two)
ReplyDelete“Mambo Love Poem” itself is its own meaning its about being in love while hearing mambo music. Music creates love like in the second stanza “Carlos y Rebecca move and the room fills with blazes of red, Flaming pianos breezing spicy tunes as coconuts fall, from palm trees ancient to these children, As coconuts fall from imaginary palm trees, ancient to Borinquen souls, Imaginary coconuts fall to the beat of their feet
in rhythm with the talking African drum”. This poem has plenty of personification and a blend of English and Spanish. The main theme in this poem is music because without out the emotion of this couple dancing wouldn’t exist. The only other underlying theme is love; you can see the passion that flows through the couple so much that that it flows to everything around them. This poem could be from Sandra’s personal experience with love or showing things that she has seen also Sandra continues to show her love for mambo music.
The last title “Sprit Dance” is about the sprit of dancing in a Latin and African culture. The last two stanza’s “When Spirits dance Mambo, African and Hispanic traditions merge, into new bloodlines, of God Love full of Light. When Spirits dance and move our feet, our hearts beat to drums that speak”. There aren’t as many literary elements in this poem but once again Sandra is showing her love for music and dance in a different way in this poem. The same theme reveals itself just like the others, which is music only this time it also involves sprits. Sandra is showing how different cultures that speak different languages can move the same way when it comes to mambo music.
Sandra Maria Estevez express her love for Spanish music in those three poems using different literary elements to convey how the theme music isn’t just music. Those poems “In the Beginning”, “Spirit Dance” and last but not least “Mambo Love Poem” shows that music can bring family together, couples in love and different people together to dance in the mambo beat. Sandra expresses Spanish music because she wasn’t allowed to speak Spanish in her catholic school for the seven years she went there. She expresses her heritage and the English language she had to learn in her poetry to relate to other Latino people. With music she was able to find the best way to relate with others and everyone can enjoy it and dance.
I lve how you evaluate on his life! so detailed
Deleteawesome
DeleteI loved your essay, extremely detailed.
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ReplyDeleteKyra Nix Part 2
ReplyDeleteMartin Espada in "Niggerlips" uses imagery and simile in order to depict racial tensions and prejudice. "Douglas would brag about cruising his car near sidewalks of black children to point an unloaded gun, to scare niggers like crows off a tree, he'd say." His use of simile and metaphors allow the reader to clearly visualize an image of what it was like to be colored in the early/mid 1900s. "Niggerlips was the high school name for me." Society harassed people
based on various features of their face and body. Having something that is "too black" or shapely was looked at as being an outcast or a mistake. "The family called him a secret and kept no photograph. My father remembers the childhood white powder that failed to bleach his stubborn copper skin, and the family says he is still a fly in milk." Having a different skin and slightly fuller features defined a person.
In the poem "Heart of Hunger" imagery and metaphor was used in order to show the theme of oppression and unfair treatment that minorities have to face once in North America. "Refused permission to use gas station toilets, beaten for a beer in unseen towns with white porches, or evaporated without a tombstone in the peaceful grass." Immigrants are often misused and abused with no safe escape place. The people suffer by working hard and gaining little appreciation and benefits. “thousands are bowing to assembly lines, frenzied kitchens and sweatshops, mopping the vomit of others' children, leaning into the iron's steam and the steel mill glowing." Most illegal immigrants in dire need of jobs are so desperate that they are willing to do whatever in order to bring in some form of income.
Martin Espada uses his poetry as away to expose political and social injustice. His use of simile and metaphor allows the reader to visualize the oppression and inequalities that people of color face, especially those of Latino heritage. His writing stems from his own life experiences as well as other peoples stories. His poems “My Native Costume”, “Niggerlips” and “Heart of Hunger” are three examples of writing that expresses these common themes of inequality in society.
i like how you explained how martin espada showed inequality in his poetry
Deletei really like how you explained the poetry and used other facts
DeleteI loved your introduction ! Like ashely i liked how you use facts to explain the poerty
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ReplyDeleteTeneil James
ReplyDelete6/3/14
Ms Desmangles
Latin American studies
Black Sheep
Sandra Cisneros is a novelist, short story writer, and a poet , she was born December 20,1954. She mostly has been known for her work in “The house on Mango Street”. Cisneros is one of the first Hispanic -American writers to receive commercial success, Critics have stated that her work helped bring light to Mexican -American woman in literary feminism. Some of her life experiences have helped her to write amazing poems such “ My wicked days” “ His Story“ and “ loose woman.” Sandra Cisneros grew up being the only daughter n a family of six brothers, this lead her to feeling to feeling lonely and isolated .Sandra’s family also moved a lot, the continuous migration of her family between medico and the USA made it hard to choose cultures. Although she primary identified ores using her Mexican American identity, she till explored the struggles of being, caught between cultures. Sandra uses Tone to express her truths about Mexican culture; she hints of other element such as imagery.
In” my wicked days” by Sandra Cisneros, the author uses a carefree tone to describe her struggle with Mexican culture. “Here is my mother she is not crying”. Later in the poem she uses imagery to describe the conflict in her parents’ marriage.” The woman ,the one my father knows is not here, she does not come till later, my mother will get very mad her face will turn red and she will throw a shoe and forget over time”. This line talks about woman in Mexican culture, “she will throw a shoe and forget over time”. Sandra does not agree with the way woman are viewed in Mexican culture. “She does not know I will turn out bad” this signals her future rebelliousness towards her role as a Mexican woman.
His story by Sandra Cisneros uses a straight forward tone to express her role in her Mexican American family from her father’s eyes. “And this perhaps explains his sorrow, who no one came for” This line is also showing how unhappy he is that she is not married. Sandra’s fathers starts to compares Sandra to her great aunt who had similar roles as Sandra. “A family trait we trace back to a great aunt no one mentions, her sin was beauty, she lived mistress, dies in solitary” The line “died in “solitary” is a strong reference to her Mexican culture. As shown in her poem “my wicked days “Sandra did not conform to tradition Mexican roles given to women, nor was she traditional herself. Sandra’s s disobedience towards her traditional role as Mexican woman leads her to be known as the black sheep of her family.
The poem “Loose woman “by Sandra Cisneros uses a Confident tone to show how she is views by others.” I break laws, I upset natural order, I am beyond the jaw of the law, by all accounts I am a danger to society my happy picture grinning from the wall. These lines connect to back how she was viewed by her family, mostly her father. These lines can also relate to her Mexican culture, which is the general view of men to be the supreme action giver or the Supreme Being. I upset natural order” This is the strongest line in the poem; it represents her life in one line. This line is expressed in “my wicked days” and “His Story as well. “His story”, when her father becomes ashamed of her because she is not married. Continuing with “His story “when her father compares her to her great aunt mentioning about how she dies in Solitary. The line is expressed in “, my wicket days as Sandra compares herself to her mother stating “she does not know I will end up bad.
ReplyDelete“His story “, “loose woman” and “my wicked days” seem to be all telling similar stories, which trace back to her Issues with culture. Sandra shows this through literary elements. Her poetry is often influenced by things that she has experienced. Other influences on Sandra’s poetry are, her Father. One can only assume their relationship was not the best, this took a tole on Sandra. Sandra’s father has also been another influence in her poetry as well. We can see her father was a traditional man who didn’t approve of some of his only daughter’s decisions. Her father wants Sandra to conform to tradition, more so like her mother, who forgives her husband for cheating because she has no choice. She is given a role that cannot be changed. “She does not know I will turn out bad” Sandra’s independence and rebellion towards tradition makes her “bad”. However, while Sandra is making clear statements she continues to use a claim straight forward tone to get her main points across. “Mother will get very red and throw a shoe”. This line is clear and to the point.
I love the quote you chose to use from the poem. I kinda want to read it now.
Deletelol you forgot to indent
DeleteOur America
ReplyDeleteAmeri-gration (America Immigration)
Pat Mora is an outstanding latino or hispanic poet and writer. She was born in El Paso Texas on January 19, 1942. Growing up in a bilingual home where both spanish and english was spoken. Ms. Mora went to two colleges, texas western for her B.A. and the University of Texas for her Master of Arts. Pat Mora is an advocate for young Hispanic and Latinos, she was a teacher, university administrator, consultant, a radio host and museum director before she retired. She won many awards and fellowships. She has created many literary works some of which are about the process it takes immigrants to assimilate to the english culture. three literary works of poetry that she created with this theme are “Legal Alien”, “Elena”, and “Spanish”.
The poem “Legal Alien”, presents the topic the process immigrants take to assimilate to the united states culture. the poem starts off with saying “Bi-lingual, Bi-cultural able to slip from “how’s life?” to “Me’stan volviendo loca,”” lines one to three. Most people can easily go from spanish to english with no problem depending on the amount of effort and time they put in learning english. The poem goes on to lines 9 to 15 which in short term states that to americans latin people are nothing but spanish in their eyes and to hispanics people who make an effort to assimilate are nothing more than a deserter of culture and are no longer hispanic. The lines which follows lines 20 to 22 “by masking the discomfort of being pre-judged Bi-literally” there are always people who will judge others with the quickness the hypocrisy of it all is that even in these situations of someone trying to branch there horizons and learn another language they are being judged by the people who are not willing to do so.
Unlike the poem “Legal Alien” the poem “Elena” is quite the opposite. This poem is about a mother who is attempting to learn english and gets laughed at when she messes up words. In line 1 the poem says “my spanish isn’t good enough” it then says “Now my children go to American High Schools.They speak English. At night they sit around the kitchen table, laugh with one another. I stand at the stove and feel dumb, alone.” this is because her children know english unlike their mother who only speaks spanish. the poem goes on “I bought a book to learn English. My husband frowned, drank more beer. My oldest said, 'Mama, he doesn't want you to be smarter than he is'. I'm forty, embarrased at mispronouncing words, embarrased at the laughter of my children” The peculiar thing about these lines are that embarrassed is written just like it would be pronounced by a hispanic who’s learning english. the important thing about this is that the mother is not getting support by her own husband in learning a new language, which in most cases in hispanic homes the man wants to be the powerful person in the household and the women to be inferior to them.
ReplyDeleteNot like the poems previously discussed which were about adults, in the poem “Spanish” the speaker is in the perspective of a young person perhaps a teen ager. The teenager only knows spanish and is in a school that speaks mostly english. The poem begins with a mother asking their child if they were sick, the child's response to that was in lines 3-7 “I hurt too much to tell her. I was shrinking in that school. I couldn’t speak English. All my intelligence and feelings trapped inside, en español.” It is hard to be independent when you do not know how to get around in a world that can’t understand you and your language. Especially in a world that is judgemental. “I hid so deep inside, I’d lose myself for days,forget the sound of my own voice.At home, I was silent more and more, my mouth too sad to speak.” many people in the situation where they don’t know how to speak alternate languages do often shut down or revert into themselves.
There are many situations Pat Mora has shown about assimilation to our society where people are forced to learn english in order to survive. the three poems that are presented in this essay has shown three perspectives to which people react to assimilation and the troubles they faced while trying to enter societies culture.
I like how you compared the poems
DeleteTianna Morris
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmangles
Latin American Literature
June 2014
What Is The Pain of Longing and Loneliness?
The feeling of desolation in your heart; that suffocating, limitless feeling that seems to grow with each passing day…that is the feeling of loneliness. The term “loneliness” can be applied to many different situations within one’s life. Carolina Hospital, a conformed immigrant in America, has written many poems revolving around the central theme of “loneliness”. From her poetic memoir, “A Child of Exile”, not only does three of her poems titled “Dear Tia”, “A Daughter for Raisa”, and “Hell’s Kitchen” express the theme of loneliness, but also the extension of the term—“longing”. Through the use of the irony, imagery, metaphors, symbolism, and personification selectively, Carolina Hospital displays three different circumstances relating to how the combination of loneliness and longing can either consume one’s life (literally or figuratively), or lead them to a sense of freedom.
Much like revenge, loneliness is a dish best served cold. Carolina Hospital, a woman of Cuban descent, was forcefully immigrated to the foreign land of Florida at a young age. In her most renowned poem, “Dear Tia”, the speaker seems to have gone through the same situation. Using irony and imagery, she portrays the speaker that’s writing a poetic letter to her aunt, detailing her underlying loneliness as she struggles through tribulations in a strange new land, with apparently little to no recollection of her childhood. For starters, the poem itself is one whole contradiction, combined with literary elements. In stanza 1, line 1, the speakers says “I do not write. The years have frightened me away”, and then in stanza 2, line 16, she says “I write because I cannot remember at all”. Those were contradictory statements, for the reason that she displays irony in an underlying meaning. That meaning being: she doesn’t want to write because she’s fearful of bringing to surface her pain from solitude, yet she will in order to convey those feelings.
Even though irony was a major element used in the poem, imagery was another potential factor. The speaker expresses her loneliness and longing in an underlying form as she describes an object of the past. In stanza 1, lines 6-7, she says “One black and white photograph of your youth, all I hold on to”. These lines creates the image of someone holding onto an old photo of a loved one, who's feeling the longing for them so much to the point where the picture gives them the sense of their presence. Yet aside from this, she expressed her sorrowful feelings in the same underlying form as she describes what she “doesn’t miss”. In stanza 2, lines 2-3, the speaker says “I do not miss your voice urging me in play, your smile…”, and in lines 5-6, “I cannot close my eyes and feel your soft skin, listen to your laughter…” The image that comes to mind is of a woman attempting to play with a child, and then the child embracing the woman, being comforted by her laughter. Whether or not these events occurred, (since the speaker was very young when she immigrated), the speaker’s feelings of loneliness and longing for or from each situation described has consumed her psychologically, sinking her mentality with a heavy weight.
I really like how you grabbed me in the beginning. Your Essay didn't bore me and i enjoyed reading it. you have a little bit of comma splices but your overall essay is organized, and cohesive. You address the task very well and make it easy to understand the authors point of view.
DeleteAlthough Hospital’s “Dear Tia” poem was an effective way to express the two central themes, her next poem titled “A Daughter for Raisa” takes on a different perspective, and a more darker tone of expression. With the use of metaphors and symbolism, a poem with the aspects of a eulogy is created to tell the story of a woman who ultimately died with her desire to see freedom, after feeling trapped within her Cuban homeland. The words “trapped” and “desire” can be considered an allusion to “loneliness” and “longing”. In stanza 2, lines 5-7, the speaker says “To her, the island was no tropical jewel, but an insular piece of land, surrounded by water with no outlets”. Metaphorically, those lines expressed Raisa's feelings of confinement in Cuba; that her land is not in fact a paradise. A metaphor is used again in stanza 2, lines 18-20, when the speaker says “...who soon plunged into the wet darkness, chasing hallucinations. She held onto hers a while longer”. Those lines were talking about how deep-seated Raisa's longing for freedom was, as a result of the affects from her “confinement”.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the use of metaphors to express the themes of this dark tale, symbolism also plays a role. It can be discerned that the raft she used to set sail with is symbolism for a “bridge” that connects Raisa's longing and loneliness. This can be shown in stanza 2, lines 15-16, when the speaker mentions “I suppose that’s what Raisa thought, when she took to the sea on a raft”. That raft was the thing that would break Raisa from her “confinement”, and fulfill her desires by taking her to the land of freedom. Another form of symbolism was represented in stanza 4, line 30, when the speakers says “Dressing in armor to survive”. It meant that Raisa had to shed any burdens, and focus on attaining a life of freedom as motivation. To put the poem simply, much like Carolina in “Dear Tia”, Raisa was consumed by her “confinement” and desires, which ultimately led to her dying before she could achieve her goal.
The last of the Hospital’s three poems that effectively expresses the themes of “loneliness” and “longing” is “Hell's Kitchen”. Despite its implications, the poem is actually unique in the way that it balances the tones of relief and melancholy. The usage of metaphors and personification exploit the central themes, and tell the tale of how two men named Angel and Reinaldo—whose individual cases of loneliness and longing influenced them separately—took the same path, but ultimately came to a fork in the road. In Angel's case, he was a man whose time spent in solitude gave him the longing for self-freedom. This can be discerned from the combination of personification and metaphors used in lines 5-7, when the speaker says “In the dark cell, he learned to forgive. For 15 years, Angel learned to forgive his youth, as it abandoned him piece by piece”. Personification was primarily used once more in lines 11-12, “The words flew on the wings of angels, and carried away his anger with his passions.” Those four lines come together to show a once regretful man, who embraced the years of loneliness to seek retribution and repentance for his past sins—which he succeeded in.
The case of Reinaldo went more differently, as the path he took led him towards further misguidance and loneliness, with the secret longing for comfort. By use of metaphors, this can be examined in lines 15-16 when the speaker says “Reinaldo found no angels, only humans addicted to desire...” The claim is further supported by lines 19-23, “The untempered pleasures of flesh offered him respite”, and again in line 22, “He had left hell to enter its kitchen”. To put it simply, Reinaldo never sought to correct his wrong decisions, and was therefore left with promiscuity as a way to briefly overcome the loneliness. The underlying meaning of the poem generally shows how outcomes per individual can be different, depending on how they handle their experiences of longing and loneliness. Going back to Angel's case, he was fortunate in the fact that he was the only one out of all of Hospital's poems to have his experiences lead him to freedom.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to the terms “loneliness” and “longing”, there is no other poet that can convey their true meanings like Carolina Hospital. Using her own personal experiences, in addition to the five literary elements—irony, imagery, metaphors, symbolism, and personification—she used, Hospital created three unique poems in which she showed how the central themes of “loneliness” and “longing” can either destroy you, or guide you to something greater. Carolina Hospital will always be remembered as a woman whose life lessons, from her childhood into adulthood, have molded her into the respectful poet that she is today.
I loved how you worded your thought .. and i like how you told me the address of each line you used ill make a note of that the next time i write a poem analysis.
DeleteI like how you tied together the examples with the two central themes. It made the essay easy to understand and the detailing made it a great essay
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ReplyDeleteI love how you express puertorican culture. while reading you essay i wasn't confused, however you do have minor grammar and spelling mistakes but all in all your essay was really good.
DeleteCowan 1
ReplyDeleteAlana Cowan
Ms. Desmangles
Latin American Studies
Due: 6/4/14
Valor de una mujer: A Mother’s Value
Zoe Saldana once said “People think of Latina women as being fiery and fierce, which is usually true, but I think the quality that so many Latina's possess is strength”. This quote expresses the power in Latin women that is sometimes neglected in Latin American poetry and literature. Anna Castillo is a writer and Latin feminist who challenges the issue of how women are seen, through her literature. In three of her literary pieces “Women are not Roses”, “Not Just Because My Husband said”, and “Women don’t Riot” she goes toe and toe with the many issues that women face in society. Though all three pieces may have talked about different specific circumstances that Latin women have to face, in the end the theme of Women empowerment is a recurrent theme.
Ana Castillo was born on June 15th, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois to Raymond and Rachel Roca Castillo. Her mother was Mexican-Indian and her father was American. She attended Jones Commercial High School and Chicago City College before completing her BS in art at Northeastern Illinois University. Ana Castillo revived her MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Chicago. She later received her doctorate from the University of Berman Germany and has written more than 15 books and a mass amount of articles. She is an innovator and key thinker who speaks on taboo situations in Latin Culture and puts an artistic spin on it through her Chicana literature.
Castillo says the rich storytelling tradition of her Mexican heritage is the foundation for her writing. When she was nine years old, she wrote her first poems following the death of her grandmother. Whose life was a muse of the typical Latin mother and wife. In high school and college Castillo was active in the Chicana movement; she used her poetry to express her political sentiments. Anna Castillo fights for all women who have at one time or another felt the unfairness as a female existing in a world designed by men for men. She explores the Chicana experience and the historical and social involvement of Chicana feminism. Castillo brings to the floor her own unique voice, filled with the pain of ethnic life in the United States, the joys of a diverse Mexican-American past and the current struggles of her Chicana culture.
“Women are not Roses” is a poem that gives women the chance to reverse the roles that are placed on them from birth. She draws a direct comparison to women and society through imagery and references to nature. Her relations with nature, symbolizes a feminist subconscious in a way that goes beyond Standard English. In lines 1-4 she states “Women have no beginning only continual flows”. She makes a direct relationship between women and nature and implies that both are “Continual”, they are blossoming and getting more beautiful and graceful. However, in lines 4-6 she states “Although rivers flow, women are not rivers”, this quote implies that though woman are constantly blossoming, unlike a river, that goes on forever , there comes a time were women succeed and they fail, we come and we also go. Ana Castillo also uses a great deal of symbolism by using words that are regularly associated with women. Not only are women not rivers, we are also not “roses” or “oceans” or “stars” (8-10). A rose, an ocean, and stars are usually representations of beauty and value, however, Ana Castillo challenges this belief and implies that roses, oceans and stars are inadequate when compared to women. Women should never be reduced or depressed by things on earth because we are way more valuable. Castillo offers women the chance to have self-creation, definition, and a better sense of independence.
ReplyDeleteAna Castillo brings forth a message of identity, independence, and women speaking up for what they believe in through her poem “Not Just Because my Husband Said”. In her poem she uses a great deal of self-pride. In the first stanza of this poem she states “If I had no poems left I would be classified working class intelligentsia my husband said, having resort to teaching or research grow cobwebs, between my ears if I had no poems left” from this stanza we know that her poetry is a means of escape from the responsibility placed on her from society. In the third stanza she states “If I could not place on the table fresh fruit, vegetables tender and green we would soon grow ill and lean my husband said, we’d grow weak and mean and useless to our neighbors if I could not place fresh fruit on the table.” This quote shows her knowledge of the responsibility that is set on her. If she couldn’t provide for her family they would be weak and useless to society. It is very clear that throughout this poem she agrees with her husband’s statements, however, she wants to make it clear that the reason for agreeing with him is not simply because he said so. She throws away the stigma of submitting to her husband’s every need because she knows who she is as a mother, a wife, and as a woman.
In the final literary piece ‘Women Don’t Riot” she calls women out on not taking a stand to the injustices they face. She challenges all women to stand up for their rights as human beings. In line one she states “women don’t riot, not in maquilas in Malaysia, Mexico, or Korea, not in sweatshops in New York or El Paso. This quote identifies the places were women expressing themselves are taboo. There is something about Latin, and Asian culture that wants their woman typically weak and inferior. It later goes down to say in lines 3-7, “They don’t revolt in kitchens, laundries, or nurseries…when scalded by hot water, not in restaurants where they clean and clean and clean their hands raw”. This quote is significant because it shows how women work until their bodies become tattered and broken down and they still don’t speak up for themselves and demand change. In lines 18-19 she states “We pass out petitions, organize a civilized vigil, and return the work the next day. This quotes tells us that women using soft voices to get their points across is inadequate we must stand up and not be complacent to the unfair working conditions. The third stanza says "we women are sterilized, have more children than can feed, don't speak the official language, want things we see on TV" the purpose of this stanza is to express and show example of the many reasons why women of all races don't speak up for better working and conditions. Many women are too rooted in the idea of the "American Dream" and come to this country as immigrants seeking any job hoping to get the life of glam and wealth.
ReplyDeleteAnna Catillos' way of writing “Women don’t Riot” helps readers understand her viewpoint on Women having a voice. In the 6th stanza it states "Women don't form a battalion, March arm to arm across continents bound by the same tongue...same abandonment, and same broken heart. “Ana Castillo makes a call to all women that in order to seek change we must all come together despite our different backgrounds; we all have the same circumstances, misery, pain, and broken hearts. If this wants to be reversed it takes women from all walks of life coming together demanding it. In the final stanza Ana Castillo doesn't just address women but addresses everyone. She uses a great deal of imagery in the last stanza ; she states “quietly, instead, one and each takes the offense, rejection, bureaucratic dismissal, disease that should not have been, insult, shove, blow to the head, a knife at the throat. She won't fight, she won't scream, taught as she's been to be brought down as if by surprise. She'll die like an ant beneath a passing heel. Today it was her. Next time who." This puts readers in the position to experience what many Latin American women go through. It exposes the domestic abuse that women have to go through and forces everyone to look at how society has thrown women's self-expression and courage out the door.
All in all, In Latin American Culture, woman’s voices are hidden behind the traditions of society. Anna Castillo is a writer and Latin feminist who challenges the normal perception of women and speaks on taboo issues that force each woman to look within herself and find a way of self-expression. She uses her literature to convey a message of hope and pride for all women.
ReplyDeleteIn three of her literary pieces “Women are not Roses”, “Not Just Because My Husband said”, and “Women don’t Riot” she goes toe and toe with the many issues that women face in society, though each poem has its own message of women empowerment, in the end they all give a sense of dignity and of self-pride for every female in this world, whether young or old.
I love the way you made Anna Castillo stand for woman with power and ambition in her stories, its very empowering to women who also feel that way about their voices not being heard
DeleteJianee Carrasco
ReplyDeletePart1
"Encontrandome de Nuevo"
"Never mind searching for who you are, search for the person you aspire to
be." (Robert brault) The theme of self identification is a common theme in the
works of the Latin American poet jimmy Santiago Baca. His early life involved a
life of crime and drug abuse but his poetry evoked a completely different
matter; hope. The transition Baca made from childhood to maturity is shown in
the particular works "roots," "accountability," and "a daily joy to be alive."
The poems explain his journey using personification, allegory, allusion,
characterization, conflict, and imagery.
Born in New Mexico in 1952 Baca's early life was dreadful. At the age
of five, he was sent to the orphanage after the death of his alcoholic father.
While living in the orphanage he constantly spent his life on the streets
leading him into a life of crime and drug abuse. Although there were many
attributes working against him, without formal education he taught himself how
to read while in prison.
In prison jimmy began writing poetry which he sold to his fellow
inmates in exchange for cigarettes. An inmate convinced him to submit his poems
to the magazine Mother Jones where his career began. He continued to print poems
for them and later became a publisher. His hardships inspired him to reach for
all that he could be instead of what he was classified as which was a criminal.
His tragic early years is what inspired the theme of self identification through
his works where instead of expressing resentment, his poetry is full of hope.
Jianee Carrasco Part2
ReplyDeleteIn "Roots," jimmy Santiago Baca uses characterization, allusion, and
allegory to instill the character's link to his land and his self
identification. The author uses characterization by describing the character
indirectly through his speech and actions. ( He lifts a handful of earth by your
polished shoe and tells you in Spanish, it carries the way of his life.) The
character's actions suggest he is passionate about the symbolism of the land to
his heritage. The author uses allegory and allusion by suggesting a meaning by
making a reference to the cottonwood and the father. " Ten feet beyond the back
door the cottonwood tree is a steaming stone of beginning time... Henceforth, I
will call this cottonwood, Father." The connection to the cotton wood and the
father is when the government arrived to retrieve the land, his father had to
find his identity once again.
In " Accountability," Jimmy Santiago Baca uses personification to
describe the inability for one to choose their identity and purpose. "Who we are
and what we do appears to us like a man dressed in a long black coat, a bill
collector... Offers a paper to sign and says we have no choice but to sign it."
Jimmy implies identity is uniform because although some should question "the
bill collector" no one does instead we accept the reality because we have
priorities we should take care of. "We read who we are we should change this
paragraph... It's not true." The bill collector plays the role of responsibility
in one's life despite who you aspire to be there is the reality of the situation
which you should acknowledge.
In "A Daily Joy To Be Alive," Jimmy Santiago Baca uses allegory,
personification and imagery. "My body and soul are two cliff peaks... I must
learn to fly again each day or die." The author uses allegory by suggesting the
finding of ones self with flying or falling to ones death. Furthermore,
personification is also used when death is given characteristics of human
nature. "Death draws respect and fear from the living... Death offers no false
starts." Lastly, the author uses kinesthetic imagery. Baca uses kinesthetic
imagery by pertaining to a movement or action. "... Uncoiling the rope of my
life to descend ever deeper into unknown abysses, tying my heart into a knot."
The works expressed his journey to find himself through his father
and his responsibilities. The various literary elements demonstrated in detail
his conversion from childhood to maturity.
i really enjoyed reading the background of the your author. Jimmy seems like a really talented author and i would love to read some of his work. I really like the introduction it caught my attention and there was lots of voice throughout your essay !!!
DeleteI really liked yours specially the 2nd paragraph it was really pretty
DeleteDestiny De Jesus (Part 1)
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmangles
ENG 1001-05
3 June 2014
Spanish Forgotten
Lorna Dee Cervantes is the true definition a Latin American poet. Growing up in the Mission District of San Francisco, Lorna Dee Cervantes’ mother forbade her from speaking Spanish and only allowed her to speak English. This decision was made due to the uprising of racism in the community. Lorna grew up watching her mother clean the houses of other people. As her mother would clean Lorna would read books off of the book shelves in the households. From this, Lorna’s love for literacy began to blossom. As she grew older her love for literacy intensified. Lorna wrote two poems, both dealing with Hispanics acceptance in her community and in other places. The poems are entitled “Refugee Ship” and “Beneath the Shadows of the Freeway”. By using the literary elements imagery, metaphors, and tone, Lorna Dee Cervantes is able to cast an image of the adversities that she was brought up with.
In her poem “Refugee Ship”, Lorna Dee Cervantes uses the literary elements imagery and tone to portray how she saw herself growing up and her disconnection to her Latin heritage. In her poem she states “I feel I am a captive Aboard the refugee ship. The ship that will never dock. El barco que nunca atraca.” Using imagery, Lorna portrays the idea of feeling like an alien in her own skin, as though she is in an endless journey to find herself. She goes on to say, “I see in the mirror my reflection: bronzed skin, black hair.” The author portrays the image of her starring at herself in the mirror to show how although she sees herself she doesn’t know her true self. She simply sees the figure of a bronzed skin, black haired girl but nothing more. She doesn’t know who she is as a person and has no clue where to begin searching for herself. All she can do is stair in the mirror and view the reflection of a bronzed skin girl with black hair.
(Part 2)
ReplyDeleteTone plays a big role in Lorna Dee Cervantes poem “Refugee Ship”. The pauses in between the stanza shows the intensity of the topic, and how the author had to dig deep within herself to find the right words to portray her emotions. In the beginning of her poem she states “Like wet cornstarch, I slide past my grandmother’s eyes.” She automatically deepens the tone to sorrow and rejection by starting the poem with this line. By comparing herself to a “wet cornstarch” Lorna is showing how she is incapable of adapting to the heritage that her grandmother represents. She knows nothing of her heritage, therefore, instead of accepting it and letting it indulge her she, “slides past her grandmother’s eyes”, or avoids it. Following the previous quote the poet continues by stating, “Bible at her side, she removes her glasses. The pudding thickens.” With this quote the tone drops deeper into the idea of rejection. Due to the fact that the author was kept from Latin heritage she cannot find in herself the idea of religion and tradition. She doesn’t know her religion or of any tradition because all of this was hidden from her as a child. By saying “The pudding thickens”, the poet is highlighting how finding herself has become much harder because key components like religion and tradition are missing.
In Lorna Dee Cervantes poem “Beneath the Shadow of the Freeway’, Lorna uses the literary elements tone and metaphors. In this poem Lorna symbolizes a woman who is struggling with her identity and trying to find some clarity from her grandmother and mother. The problem is that both the grandmother and mother have different views. The woman character feelings’ are now being caught between the wisdom of the grandmother and the mother self-indulgent in what
(Part 3)
ReplyDeleteshe believes is best. In the second stanza of “Beneath the Shadow of the Freeway”, the poet states, “We were a family; Grandma our innocent Queen; Mama, the Swift Knight, Fearless Warrior. Mama wanted to be the Princess instead. I know that. Even now she dreams of taffeta and foot-high tiaras.” The poet portrays a tone of what was once a happy family is now a family with different wants and needs. The grandmother representing Lorna’s heritage and how nothing about it has changed, whereas, the mother represents someone who is well aware of their heritage, but wants to change it or in a sense discard of who she was for who she wishes to be. The poet continues by stating “I could never decide. So I turned to books, those staunch, upright men, interpreting letters from the government, notices of dissolved marriages and Welfare stipulations”. The tone in this poem has shifted from confusion to determination. The poet is on a hunt to find herself, to discover the person who she is through all means necessary.
Lorna Dee Cervantes also uses metaphors in her poem “Beneath the Shadow of the Freeway” to express her idea of how much she didn’t know about her heritage. In her poem the grandmother once again represents the idea of the heritage that the woman in the poem does not know about. The poet writes “In California in the simmer, mockingbirds sing all night. Grandma says they are singing for their nesting wives. ‘They don’t leave their families borrachando.’” The poet used to idea of the mockingbirds never leaving its family to show how she should have never left her roots. The mockingbird stays close to its family therefor Lorna should have been kept close to her heritage, not pulled away from it. The poet continues the stanza by stating “She believes in myths and birds. She trust only what she builds with her own hands”. By stating this the poet is making the conclusion that her heritage is old fashioned, nothing is new, and nothing will change.
Ilunga Kadisha
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmanges
6-6-14
Latin American Literature
Gary Soto Poetry Analysis (Part 1)
Gary Soto was born in April 12, 1952 and is an American author and poet who is from Fresno California. He is one of the most important voices in Latin American literature. Furthermore, he has done this with great poetic skill. He has a unique style of poetry and uses metaphors that make you want to read more of his work. Each of his poems has a different arrangement and different themes.
There are many different themes in Gary Soto’s poems. One of the many different themes he uses is his view of the natural world as a wasteland. A related theme is Soto’s refusal to yield to the temptation to evoke a transcendental view of nature. His heroes are obliterated from that world; they cannot and do not transcend it. Soto does, however, balance his open view of the human condition when he writes about childhood. That state is filled with a quest for knowledge and experience. In the poem “Chuy,” I believe the young speaker may be naive or mistaken in his idealized love; however, he does manage to pass through his experiences and gain some wisdom, and he does not give in to distrust. In the later poems, Soto contrasts the harsh conditions of his childhood with the innocence and privilege of his own daughter. In “Small Town with One Street,” for example, he shows his daughter a young boy in Fresno who he says is an image of himself as a child. The daughter is shocked to see that poor and troubled image of her father. Soto did not change his pessimistic view of the world as he grew older. In “The Way Things Work,” the speaker supplies the costs of the day and worries about meeting them. The
Part 2
ReplyDeleteculture of poverty cannot be overcome by related luxury it continues to mark Soto’s view of the world, as the wind and dirt marked the workers in the field.
Gary Soto’s poetic style is marked by the use of short free-verse lines. The lines often run on, creating the effect of a rapid flow of images hurrying to reach a final resolving line. He uses many metaphors, but he’s always using imagery in his poems. The poems are packed with images that follow one another, often creating a structural design. I noticed that Gary Soto doesn’t write many long poems most of them are all short lyrics. Soto uses irony consistently in his poems. He seems particular of ending a poem with a positive statement or image. The last few lines usually reverse or comment on what went before. These ironic structures show his open view of a world in which everything passes away, including any sign of the poor citizens.
Soto is the poet of the Chicano experience, but his view of that people is not hopeful. He shows their condition to be one of hard work with few rewards. There maybe a few hidden moments of joy on the street or in the privacy of the home, but difficult economic conditions make such happiness short-lived. The one positive element in Soto’s poetry is his portrayal of his own family, which has escaped the restricted and limiting world of manual labor Gary Soto had experienced in Fresno California. That family is also a complex, as Gary Soto’s wife is Japanese American. The family scenes he creates are delicate and hopeful.
Soto writes about situations that most people hear about. He also reaches out to readers so that they are able to understand the perspective the writer is coming from. Soto uses the literary devices to create the vision of how his view of the natural world is of a wasteland, and love that he undergoes as a citizen Latin American.
I like how you gave reader a background on the author ,and let the reader know what the author commonly writes about. I feel that you should maybe use some lines from the poem to give reader a insight of where your coming from,and what your trying to say
DeleteI agree with you ieasha, as a reader I wanted more examples from the text to connect with the ideas in this essay.
DeleteAnthony Wilson
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmangles
Latin American Literature
May 28, 2014
Miguel Algarin
Miguel Algarin was born in Santurce Puerto Rico on September 11, 1941. Miguel is said to be one of the most creative literary figure in Latin America and the United States. Miguel and his family moved to New York in the early 1950’s. There is where Miguel fell in love with writing. He attended the university of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania state and earned his advance degree in literature. Miguel soon later served as a professor teaching Shakespeare, creative writing, and United state ethnic literature. Miguel’s passion for literature and writing and poetry made him develop the Nuyorican poet’s café.
Miguel Algarin graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1963 with a Bachelor’s degree in Romance languages. By 1965, he earned his Master’s degree in English literature from Pennsylvania State University. Several years later he completed his doctoral studies in Comparative Literature at Rutgers University where he eventually became chair of its Puerto Rican Studies department. Miguel is known as one of the founding fathers of the Puerto Rican poetic movement that originated in New York City between the 1960s and the 1970s.
In 1975, Miguel established the Nuyorican poet café. This café gave a public performing space for all types of poets that come from Puerto Rican of African-American background. In 1980 Miguel purchased a building on east 3rd street to expand the café. The Nuyorican café is now a non-profit organization that gives and offers poetry, theatrical and musical performances and visual arts programs.
Miguel made the Nuyorican café for the many poets that he wanted to showcase their skills but Miguel is also a great poet himself. For example, in Miguel’s poem “August 21,” he writes about a woman that has been sexually assaulted. He starts off the poem with this compelling quote as if someone is talking to you. “I’ve been raped, I called the police and now I’m calling you.” Miguel writes that Lina is the name of the woman that called him and said this. When reading this poem, you’re constantly questioning who this Lina person is to Miguel. Is she Miguel’s sister, or maybe his mother, or a girlfriend? Or is she even real person or did he just make up the woman to show and express the emotional turmoil that victims and their families go through in situation such as Miguel depicted.
Miguel also captives the darker side of rape in his poem “Nuyorican Angel.” Miguel establishes a dark essence of violence, and sexual situations. Miguel writes, “Rousing violent torrents of liberating, sensual blood flow…Fuels his desire to enter the temple of live bodies.” When reading this Miguel gives the impression of a murder or rape happing. Miguel is able to capture the darkness and the sadness in both of these poems that he wrote.
Miguel found his passion for poetry and writing and helped others with the same passion to showcase them. Miguel in said to be one of the most creative literary figure in Latin America and the United States, you can see why. He not only wanted to show the world his love for poetry and writing and his culture but gave others the same opportunities. Miguel once said, “You can capture the essence of your home land through many different arts. Through dance, through song, through paint, but how can one capture their peoples voice? You do it through writing.” When being true to your culture and embracing it you to take in in through all art form including literature. That’s what Miguel wanted to show people of America that writing and poetry is an art in its own, an art form that many people are invested in. that’s why Miguel Algarin is one of the most astonishing literary figures of Latin America.
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ReplyDeleteDavis 1
ReplyDeleteDestiny Davis
Ms. Desmangles
Latin American Literature
June 6, 2014
Gustavo Perez-Firmat
Latinos in the U.S. are living bicultural and often bilingually. Gustavo Perez-Firmat is a Cuban American who writes novels, poetry, memoirs, and academic work in both Spanish and English. The themes for Gustavo Perez-Firmat’s poems are bilingual. In the poems "Bilingual Blues", "Dedication" and "Nobody knows my name" he shows how being bilingual can be both a blessing and a burden. He does this by using repetition, tone and imagery.
In bilingual blues he enhances his writing by using figurative language such as repetition. He uses repetition to explain that communicating in two languages leads to awkward situations. He uses repetition because he repeats "I'm a melting pot of contradiction. I have mixed feelings about everything." When he says this he's comparing his contradictions and mixed feeling to his language. Although Spanish is his first language, he speaks neither fluently.
Bilingual Blues tells me that Gustavo is confused about everything and can't give anyone a concrete answer. He has a lot of ideas and can give commentary but can't figure out what to do for him-self. He struggles with both languages and to him "it’s both a lament and a celebration". In reality he explains how his speaking habits are rare. Gustavo thinks that words fail him in both languages; he has a discomfort with finding himself between languages. He also feels that other may be happy to know two languages but for him it’s like an inter-lingual jab. This means he wishes he only knew one language so life for him would be easier.
"Dedication" enhances Gustavo's writing by using figurative language such a tone. In this poem he says "The fact that I am writing to you in English already falsifies what I wanted to tell you". The tone of accomplishment is sent from the poem. Gustavo normally right his poems in Spanish/English or sometimes all Spanish. This is his first poem he wrote in full English.
"Dedication" is about Gustavo being dedicated to his voice and his opinion and wanting to get his point across no matter what. He struggles with both languages but for this poem he succeeded in writing the whole poem in English. He explains that although Spanish is his first language, there are certain things that he can only say in English. He also says "...I don't belong to English though I belong nowhere else". This quote was directed to his family because his wife and kids speak English. This tells how he is forced to speak their language.
“Nobody knows my name” uses imagery because he explains how he’s getting mail with different names that look similar to his. He’s in an English speaking country and nobody can relate to him nor even begin to know who he is or what his culture is about. People just get his name completely wrong. It aggravates him because if he was home in a Spanish speaking country things would be different.
B’ili Scott
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmangles
English Period 6
4 June 2014
Get Rich or Die trying Part
America as we know is a melting pot of several different cultures from all over the world . Our ancestors came here with a dream of being successful in making a better life for their children and following generations. They saw America as the land of fortune and opportunity . They were sold a dream , when they came here they worked their hardest to gain wealth . Pedro Pietri immigrated to America in 1943 from Puerto Rico , he grew up in Manhattenville ,New York . After being discharged from the Vietnam War, Pedro became affiliated with the Puerto Rican civil rights group called the “Young Lords”, which may have had added a greater impact in his writing . He was a part of the Nuyorican Movement which was a cultural and intellectual movement were poets, writers, musicians and artist; who are Puerto Rican or of Puerto Rican decent use their art to validate Puerto Rican experience in the U.S. for poor and working class people who suffered from marginalization ,ostracism and discrimination. Through the use of imagery and metaphors, we can begin to understand Pedro’s perspective of a Puerto Rican who has seen that America from a far maybe beautiful and dreamy, but once you get here it’s not what you thought.
In his poems “El Spanglish National Anthem” and “Puerto Rican Obituary”, he tells his readers about the struggle of making it in America In his writing he tells us about the inflation of prices in Puerto Rico “En my Viejo San Juan/ They Raise the price of pan/ So I fly to Manhattan”. Here he exposes to us why Puerto Ricans leave there homeland , they because the
cost of living is just too high in Puerto Rico . “ I hit the numbers/ I’ll return to San Juan/ Afford a pan of bread”.
ReplyDeleteIn “Puerto Rican Obituary” Pedro shows us the struggle of the Puerto Ricans. How they work so hard and don’t ask for much but die trying . “ They worked/They worked/They worked/and they died/They died broke/they died oweing/”.
Throughout Pedro’s life he fought so that Puerto Ricans can live a just life . The Young Lords Party was the Black Panther Party to the Latino community , providing decent healthcare , free breakfast in the morning for children . In his poems you can sense that his tone is passionate for the Puerto Rican Community and how his people were sold a dream. That America was a place of good opportunities however it was all a lie .“In Spanish there were bills/In English there were bills/That just kept getting bigger./Categorized as hicks/We were called dirty spicks/Blanco trash and black niggers” . This is expressing the discrimination Puerto Ricans faced when they came to America.
His tone throughout the poem is passionate for his people , in his life work we see that he tries to complete the missing piece to their dreams. We hear the struggle of the Puerto Ricans trying to find themselves in the American society. They worked to be just like what they heard about . In the follow stanza from his poem “El Spanglish National Anthem” is all about how they tried to assimilate the American culture, maybe in some ways hoping that they would blend in . As we continue to read on he says that they lose their accents but when they speak it exposes them for the who they are, Puerto Ricans. “Some did assimilate/In de United States/They got rid of de accent/Tho whenever they spoke/That will always unmask them! But de majority/Kept
their identity/Never did lose their accent!/They were proud not ashamed/Of their Boricua
Your writer really compares to my writer and my view on immigrants. They come here for a better life but they just work all their life. To be honest I know they have it better in their own land because they own property and are with family. My writer was Puerto rican and he kept his identity.
Deletenames/If you don’t believe ask them.” – “El Spanglish National Anthem “.
ReplyDelete“Juan/Miguel/Milagros/Olga/Manuel/All died yesterday today/and will die again tomorrow/passing their bill collectors/on to the next of kin/All died/waiting for the garden of eden/to open up again/under a new management/All died/dreaming about America” - “Puerto Rican Obituary “.In this stanza of Puerto Rican Obituary , Pedro is basically saying that today it was Juan ,Miguel, Milagros ,Olga and Manuel. Tomorrow its some else and they will have dreamt the same dream, have had the same hopes and but died trying to get a tastes of success that they came here for. One can interpret many different themes from his poems but clearly in these two I have analyzed his message is that Puerto Ricans work hard for every little thing they have but and work harder for what they don’t . They come to America with a dream that they will have a chance to have everything they need .
In conclusion through his radical works intellectually and desire for social change he painted an image of life of Nuyoricans for those who are unaware. He validate clarified the Nuyoricans experience in America through his poetry .
I love how you capture the essence of the author and describe his take on latino society
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ReplyDeleteEdith Morrison
ReplyDeleteMs. Desmangles
Latin American Literature
June 6, 2014
Jimmy Santiago Baca was born January 2, 1952 in Santa Fe County New Mexico. At the age of two he was abandoned by his parents and was given to one of his grandmothers before being sent to an orphanage. He ended up living on the streets, then was convicted of drug possession then incarcerated. While in prison, Baca wanted to learn, but many of the guards thought his idea was dangerous. While in prison he taught himself how to read and write, but he took more of an interest in poetry. A fellow inmate of his suggested that he summit some of his work to the magazine called Mother Jones. Once his work was accepted Denise Levertor who edited his work began to contact Baca and found a publisher who was willing to work with him. Jimmy would go on to write his highly praised book called Immigrants in our land. He would go on to write his semi- autobiographical, Martian and Meditations and South Valley. This book received the American book award for poetry. He would soon win the Hispanic Heritage award in literature in 1989.
In Jimmy's poems “A Daily joy to be Alive", "Roots", and “Accountability", he uses many literary elements to help the readers to understand and break down each poems meanings. In "A Daily joy to be Alive" he frequently uses metaphors to express that living can be hard but wrestling with death and darkness can never help anyone make a new beginning. He also uses personification in this poem when he gives death human characteristics. In his next to poems ”Accountability" and "Roots" he uses imagery to allow you to visualize what he sees.
In "A Daily joy to be Alive" Jimmy uses metaphors to describe how life can through fastballs, but never trade that in for death. It's just a place where you don’t receive second chances at life. In lines four and five he says "...my body and soul are two cliff peaks..." in other words Jimmy's trying to express the high and lows of life. He wants people to know that there's going to be many days were you have to take a step back, but taking too many steps forward will
Part 2
ReplyDeletelead you into making good decisions in life. The Cliffs and peaks he's expressing is the ups and down he faced in his lifetime. In stanzas two lines one and two the Arthur uses personification to give death a human characteristic. He's basically saying when you're dead; you gain the respect you didn’t when you were alive. Even though you’re dead, the fear of a lost one is something the living had yet to deal with.
In his next poem "Accountability" Jimmy uses imagery to have readers visualize what the Arthur is trying to express. In lines one to four he say's "who we are and what we do appears to us like a man dressed in a long black coat, a bill collector." He's having us visualize a man in a black long jacket like a bill collector. He also uses imagery when he say’s "we read who we are- we should change this paragraphs..." He's explaining that some people believe they can tell us who we are in paragraphs, but we can change what words are written in paper.
In his last poem "Roots", Jimmy also uses imagery and metaphors. In lines four and five he says “a battle –scarred warrior whose great branches knock…” he uses metaphors to show how the cottonwood tree has been through extreme trial of the living. In stanzas two lines eighteen he say “my heart is a root in this earth”, so in other words he’s who he is. He’s a part of the world he grew up in. In stanzas two last line he says “you left a trail of dust in our face”, this would imply that their father either left them behind or was too far in front from them to catch up.
The main theme of Jimmy’s poems is surrounding life. When growing up without a family is something that can harm a child’s life. Yet for Jimmy he was able to find something to replace the void of having no one who actually cared for him. Through metaphors, imagery, and personification he’s able to express the way he feels about life in general. Life is something may people have a hard time dealing, so the only way for them to get through it is in there poetry.
Antianna Meade
ReplyDeleteWadleigh Secondary
Ms. Desmangle
Ms. Engle
In "Archetype", Margarita uses simile and tone to describe how she was never, caught up in the fairy tale mindset as a young girl she was thinking about things that were more realistic . She describes her creativeness and thoughts she states " I chose the tale of a bird with a voice that could soothe the melancholic spirit of an emperor helpless despite his wealth and power.'' Margarita took a different turn in poetry and books . Instead of the usual damsel in distress being saved by a prince she writes about reality of an emperor who isn't seen just for his riches.
Margarita Engle in " Archetype" uses metaphor and imagery to describe how many writers write about the usual ."Instead of magic beanstalks and man-eating giants or wolves disguised as gentle grandmas. " This quote was stated by Margarita the quote means instead of, writing about fictional characters and people write about stuff young kids can use throughout there childhood and actually understand the real world and the real concepts in life .
In the poem " Archetype" Margarita Engle uses point of view . The point of view she uses is her own point of view on fairy tales and fables . She states "Is it true that nothing reveals more about a person's secret heart than the adult memory of a favorite childhood fairy tale.? That statement means that many people have a fantasy that they have always wanted to live just by remembering a fairy tale they was told when they were younger .
In " Archetype " Engle uses simile to describe Hansel and Gretel. She states " Hansel and Gretel seemed like a recitation". Recitation means repetition of a list of facts which means Hansel and Gretel was a different title but had the same sequence of a fairy tale story. Margarita uses tone throughout the whole poem so you will understand and get the concept of what she is stating throughout the poem . For example she says" I never understood all the fuss
about princesses poisoned or rescued from dragons". She explains her feelings and opinion in this quote.
Margarita uses imagery and metaphor to describe how writers never think outside of the box. She was one of the writers that used her imagination and writing skills in a absolutely different way . Engle gave an insight on her thoughts but the only difference is she put her thoughts on paper . Her imagery came in when she started describing many of the characters she talked about and how they appeared in the stories.
Engle uses point of view in many descriptive ways which helps her ellaborate on how she feels and excatly what she wants to describe . The poetic device " point of view" is based on who is telling the poem . As you read the poem "Archetype" you will read how the poem is based of her point of view. Margarita also uses the word "I " alot to tell she is talking about herself and the view is based on her descriptions and experiences .
DeleteIf you have read the poem "Archetype " or will be reading you, will have a complete understanding by just reading the poem . You will have a total different outlook on your childhood life and will probably have a lot of memories run throughout your head after reading "Archetype". This poem will definitely catch your attention and keep it throughout the whole reading of the poem.
I like how your writer uses different literary elements and she tells it how it is.
DeleteNicole Agudelo
ReplyDeleteEnglish
Desmangles
Period 6
May 28th, 2014
As the Lone Survivor
"When tragedy happens to you, you are a victim. If you fight over it, you’re a survivor. If you then fight for others, you are a warrior."-Ana Castillo. Art isn't monitored or controlled. Sometimes it gives you insight into another person point of view or opinion on a topic. Some artists or authors have the ability to demonstrate a trending theme in their work. Work by Ana Castillo establishes the theme of separation and sexuality and how they coexist in a lonely women's life. Ana Castillo is a perfect example on how artists utilize literary elements in their poems to get a theme noticed.
Born June 15, 1953 in Chicago, Ana Castillo was raised in a Mexican Cuban-American home with a working mother and a demanding father. As a child, Ana spent most of her early years in school while her mother went to work and her father was in and out of the house. Ana remembers specific memories in her childhood that she shared recently " Id remember that my mom would barely have enough to feed the family and just had the worst day possible and yet the next morning she'd wake up early and put her lipstick and 99 cent eyeliner and go back to the factory." Her mother taught her to be strong and never show her emotions as a child especially the emotions that made her look weak. She was put to the test when her father left them. Her mother then raised her alone and taught her the basics to survival while still working. Ana's mother saved up enough money to put Ana through college alongside some scholarships and grants Ana had gotten from High School.
Ana Castillo attended University of Chicago and decided to study visual and Liberal Arts. She didn't really have any interest in poetry or writing for that matter. A couple of years later Ana graduated with a BS and MS in art at UOC. She began to write small poems in her work and presented it to small newspapers and magazines in the area. She got small jobs to support her throughout her young adult years. She soon realized she enjoy reading and writing poems alongside her work. At the early age of 25 she became a publisher for the Los Angles Times and traveled frequently back fourth between Chicago and L.A. In 1999 she was nominated for Chicana of the year in her native town. Ana soon began writing short stories and realistic fiction in her spare time. A friend of her put her in touch with a publisher and finally got her book published alongside stories like "So Far from God" and "Memoirs". Ana then began to write about the trials and tribulations of her life and the lives of other women she had met over the course of her traveling. A common theme was demonstrated throughout her work as a poet.
In the poem "Women Are Not Roses" Ana discovered the difference between being a women and being weak. She uses clear and visible imagery in her writing to express the theme of separation and sexuality in her work. She describes Women to be these non-mystical creatures who are raw and indifferent to what people portray them to be. In the stanza "Women are not roses they are not oceans
or stars", here she depicts the image of flowy waters and a shiny bright object. She continues the whole poem by disagreeing with the stereotype of how women aren’t always what they are said to be. She substitutes the volubility of women and describes it as sexuality and uses the love for a mother to a child and begins to suggest that separation is necessary for learning to fend for themselves. "Though rivers flow women are not rivers", she paints a picture of women not being the most important thing in the world like the flowing of a river.
Ana really expresses her hardships and her mothers position was rare. That is very inspiring as the female of the household to play the male role. Her mom got her stuff together and kept moving forward. I bet her mom was the influence behind all her work and the acts she takes.
DeleteAnother work by Ana Castillo is "Women Don't Riot". In this poem the theme of separation and Sexuality don’t go hand in hand but are seen between the stanzas of the poem. She uses the literally element of tone in the poem to keep a central idea of what she is talking about throughout the poem. In the poem she describe women who will never revolutionize. It carries a heavy message of women knowing their places and encourages others to use the feeling of settlement and escape the stereotype. She has a sarcastic tone in this poem so it comes of a bit sexual when she says the truthiness in womanhood. "We women are sterilized, have more children than they can feed", here her tone is manipulative to the stereotype of women in general rather than a specific ethnicity, which she usually does.
ReplyDeleteThe final poem that presents the theme of separation and sexuality in her poem is "While I Was Gone a War Began." In this poem Ana Castillo depicts the theme of separation from her family and loved ones and how they are as good as dead. She mentions the stupidity of Hispanics who wait to be accepted in America or a "failed culture". "What mouths do they feed? What good is your blue passport?" She describes how death is everywhere no matter what race. She uses metaphors to emphasize the separation between different cultures; "I hope for your sake you're poems become missiles." Ana wants to make it clear that separation doesn't define how a culture dies.
Ana Castillo defines the roles of Women by demonstrating the theme of sexuality and separation in her poems. She uses literary elements like imagery, tone and metaphors in many of her poems. In "Women are not Roses", she uses imagery to tell the story of a women who uses her tricks to control society. In "Women don't Riot" her tone in the poem helps to describe the role of women and how separate it is between make and female. Finally in "While I was at War a War Began", she uses metaphors to establish the role of women in different cultures to compare the differences in all. Ana Castillo from her childhood to adulthood engages her readers by writing about the true meaning to be a women and the real, annoying struggles women face.
I really enjoyed yours it was really good
DeleteLinette Santana part one - to live in the boarderlines by gloria anzalduas
ReplyDelete“To live in borderlands means you...” by Latina American Gloria Anzaldua is a poem in which she portraits the theme of self-identification. Gloria came from a descendant of many of the prominent Basque, Spanish explores and settlers who came to America also of indigenous decent. Gloria talks about ancestry and race in her poem and how it affected her life as a female in the U.S.
The poem to live in borderlands explains her journey in life using allusion and characterization. Born in Rio Grande Valley Texas in 1942 to Mexican parents, Gloria’s early life was dreadful. When she had turned three years old she started menstruating. Her parents found out that she had symptoms of an endocrine condition that cause her to stop growing physically at the age of twelve. Gloria also faced discrimination when her family relocated to Hargil, Texas. She felt discriminated because she suffer all her tragedies from health problems, her father’s death, and discrimination was able to finish her education and obtain different colleges degrees such as her bachelors and her master in different subjects including English.
Gloria in lines 9-11 reflects allusion when she talks about her experience as a Mexican American women. “That mexicanas call you rajetas, that denying Anglo inside you is as bad as having denied the Indian or Black.” This line from her poem is largely important because it is so relevant how Americans view themselves. In a young country such as ours where many families have only lived here for several generations it is very common for people to ask what your heritage is or where your family is from and rarely will anyone respond simply by saying they are American or listing one place their family originated. It is more likely that a person will respond by listing several locations. Some may even be able to give you a breakdown by percentage of just what nationalities they are made up of. Most of our culture is very reliant on blending of many cultures that many people take pride in their ancestry and feel it is very important to keep in touch with that part of themselves. That is why this specific part of the poem seems so important. It is necessary for a person to embrace all the parts of their identity rather than ignore or even deny that part of their history.
I like it its very detailed
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ReplyDeleteGenesis Shuler
ReplyDeleteMs.Desmangles
Latino Studies
6/2/15
Bless Me Ultima
Rudolfo Anaya was born October 30th, 1937 in Pastura, New Mexico. He had lived close to Santa Maria, New Mexico living with his seven siblings on a farm. Rudolfo begins his story Bless Me Ultima with a summer day when he was about to be seven years old and how he met Ultima for the very first time. Mr. Anaya uses first person point of view in his story and memory to show that he's telling the story through his perspective and that he wants us to see what he’s feeling, and what's happening with him in the story. Rudolfo also wants his memory of him questioning his mother on who Ultima was to him in a good and bad way. In the beginning of "Bless me Ultima" Rudolfo starts with the memory of his dream of Ultima and how she looked before he began to tell the story from the beginning.
In this memory, Rudolfo shows that his was a cowboy all of his life and that they lived in a farmland. Rudolfo explains how his Father had told his Mother and them that Ultima was going to be staying with them at their house for the summer, this made Rudolfo question who the mysterious woman was but he later on remembered that name before and began to dream about Ultima, causing him to ask about her to his Mother who only told him that Ultima was an important female that helped bring him into the world when he was just born, and that he will be respectful to her when she arrives to the house for the summer.
The message of what Mr. Anaya is trying to give in Bless me Ultima, is that
The memories of his childhood on growing up with his family in a farm wanting to know who Ultima was at the age of seven had stayed with him throughout his life. Rudolfo Anaya uses imagery so that the poem can have the reader's attention when it starts. This tells the reader that he wants them to be in the memory as he tells the story from his eyes.
Mr. Anaya uses the supernatural to describe Ultima, such as calling her a witch and using the description on what he heard about Ultima when he was a child. Ultima is described a woman who stopped the sickness of many children using herbs and medicine, this is shown on page 27. When Young Rudolfo asked his father on whom Ultima was.
Rudolfo also uses his real name in the story telling the reader that he was called something else other than his pen/analysis name. In Bless me Ultima, Mr. Anaya explains more on his childhood and the people that lived during his time living in Santa Maria. He explained a short passage on an Indian boy by the name of Jason, and how he's the only Indian in New Mexico and can't hang out with him because of his father. Rudolfo shows that during his childhood not many Indians accepted Mexicans.
In Bless me Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya explains the memory of his summer wandering who Ultima was. He uses First Person Point of view and Imagery so that the reader can get a better picture of what the stories going to be about.
In the first paragraph, he starts off with "Ultima came to stay with us the summer, I was almost seven." already he's telling us that this is first person point of view because he used "I" when starting the story.
Rudolf also uses the supernatural to describe Ultima as a witch and uses the memory of his dreams to show that he's see her before.
In Conclusion, Rudolfo Anaya has uses the story on his summer with Ultima to show that part of his childhood was remembering who the woman is to him and what importance she had in his life while growing up and what impact she had on his Parent's lives.
Personally I think that young Rudolfo had many memories of Ultima and that's maybe the reason on why he started his story off with a strange dream, so that he could hook the reader into it before he began to tell the whole thing. Maybe Mr. Anaya felt that maybe if he began the dream with Ultima, we as the readers would want to know more on who she was as well.
ReplyDeleteRudolfo Anaya has made it clear that during his life, Ultima was all he could think about in dreams and reality. As he said in the beginning he remembers seeing the face of a woman smiling down at him with the power of youth in her years.
This story on Bless Me Ultima is good because it explains the memory of which Ultima was to young Rudolfo as a person and as a writer, this book was significant to him because it all focused on his childhood and his curiosity on which Ultima was.
i love how you spoke of how you interpreted the poem and not how your readers can relate... i always loved your writing though !
DeleteLinette Santana part 2
ReplyDeleteGloria Anzaldua poem is mostly influenced by the things that she had experienced as a Chicana. She tries to tell us in her poem that it is important for a person to embrace all parts of their identity than ignore or even deny that part of their history. As we can see in her poem we can tell that she really embraces her culture and tries to encourage us to do the same thing. One of the reason she might encourage us to do that is because science in her early life she did not live in unity with the rest of the society, because they were discriminating her she feels that we should step ahead and live in unity with one another.
short analysis but very informative .... yass! lol
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ReplyDeleteDolores M. Santos
ReplyDelete6.12.14
Latin American Studies
6th period
It’s all Under One Umbrella It’s very difficult to adjust to a culture, being new and struggling in a country known for a better life. My writer Tato Laviera talks about american and puerto rican culture. Tato’s dialect is very playful. He aliterates words in different languages. For instance he might say how are you, and then he would say como estas. He really describes his homeland and incorporates his hispanic culture into his writing. The message that I got from some of the poems I’ve read is that most cultures are very similar. Also that you should never leave your roots and the culture of where you came from in the shadows just because you are in America.
Tato Laviera is a puerto rican writer who involves his american culture and his puerto rican culture in his writings. He compares and contrast the two different cultures. Tato was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico in 1951. He came to the United States with his family at a young age. He is very involved with his community, and was once the director of the community services. He was involved with Madison Neighbors in Action and Mobilization for Youth Incorporation. My graduation speech is a poem that stood out to me because he made me understand that the cultures were so similar that the only thing that they were different for were their labels.
In “My graduation speech” laviera plays with the english and spanish language. “Hablo lo ingles matao, hablo lo español matao,no se leer ninguno bien”. I speak english bad, I speak spanish bad, and I dont even know how to read neither of them good. This last stanza stood out to me because when I think of people having two cultures they are usually strong with the language of one culture. However, Tato struggled with both languages. People come to America in hopes of a better life, but the struggle is still there. Language for Tato was just one struggle, but there are many immigrants that come to America with nothing and when they get to America they’re working blue collar jobs to their grave. In this poem he compares the languages and he shows you that they are the same thing. “ Abraham in espanol, abraham in english”, you spell abraham the same and you say it the same whether english or spanish. One thing I thought about while reading his poem was of a home because you can make a home anywhere. Your culture is part of your home and you can bring your culture with you everywhere.
In “Savorings, from pinones to loiza” laviera uses illusion to give you a picture of puerto rican dishes, sunday mornings, and the rhythm that you can just feel. He opens up to a basic part of puerto rican culture. He starts of with a puerto rican dish. Sofritos is a mixture of crushed garlic, bell pepper, which is then sauteed in olive oil with tomato sauce. You can eat it green plantains and pork rind pieces. Then he takes you into the sunday morning the day after your body is tired from dancing and you have the meanest hangover. Tato speaks of the beaches in san juan. You can picture yourself walking along and watching the vendor’s. Of Course the” rooster’s cucurucu” is your alarm clock, its the first thing up in the morning. The summer feeling all the time. The sun, the afro-caribbean music, that rhythm “ tru cu tu tru cu tu”. That rhythm that makes the hairs in the back of your neck jump, that rhythm that’s so soft and yet so steady, you hear it everywhere you go. The rhythm is part of your culture, part of your life, and part of you.
Hence, culture is the foundation of your life. If you don’t rep your culture and you don’t know of it that is a huge issue for your self identity. Tato’s comparison of both american and puerto rican culture has really opened my eyes to the explanation of a culture.I love how he plays with his dialect.I really enjoyed reading about him and other writers on how they express culture in their works of art.
i love how you compared poems. It shows your understanding of the writer .
DeleteBorn in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957, Martin Espada is a poet, author and essayist. Espada is a heavy writer who has won many awards for his literary works of art. He speaks mostly on his latin blood and the culture that runs through his veins. His poem " Niggerlips" speaks of his high school experience with a bully named Douglas, a caucasian boy, who would point an unloaded gun at blacks to scare them. In the poem, Espada speaks of his great grandfather and father how they battle skin and the acceptance of their family. Espada uses simile and metaphors to emphasize on the racism he has come by.
ReplyDeleteEspada uses simile to compare how Douglas would use his unloaded gun to scare "niggers". Espada says " Douglas would brag / about cruising his car/near sidewalks of black children / to point an unloaded gun /to scare niggers/ like crows off a tree/ he'd say. Usually sound would scare a crow, so pointing an unloaded gun which makes only a clicking sound really portrays how Douglas scared the black children.
Towards the end of the poem Espada speaks of his great grandfather, Luis, how he was " un negrito" ,and was kept a secret by his family who kept no photographs of him.This goes to show that Espadas family doesnt really accept blacks.
Additionally, Espadas father as well , was kept hidden because of his " stubborn copper skin". " the family says / he is still a fly in milk" the metaphor Espada uses shows how his predominantly white family can not share blood with a black man. In this poem, racism plays a huge role Espada and his family struggles with .
"So Niggerlips has the mouth
of his great-grandfather,
the song he must have sung
as he pounded the leather and nails,
the heat that courses through copper,
the stubbornness of a fly in milk,
and all you have, Douglas,
is that unloaded gun." Espada says closing the poem, speaking of how he has his great granfathers voice, " the song he must have song". " Niggerlips" goes to show how racism while he was in high school played a pivotal role in his life. Douglas having only an unloaded gun is not as much of a weapon as having the strength of your relative and how they have endured a life of being shunned for their skin.
Alyssa Saunders
ReplyDelete6.16.14
Latin American Studies
Ms. demangles