I am a child of the Americas
A light-skinned mestiza (Mischling) of the Caribbean ,
A child of many diaspora (verstreute Völker), born into this continent at a crossroads.
I am a U.S.
5 A product of the ghettos of New York
An immigrant and the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants.
I speak English with passion: it’s the tongue of my consciousness,
A flashing knife blade (Klinge) of cristal, my tool, my craft.
I am Caribeña (aus der Karibik), island grown. Spanish is my flesh,
10 Ripples (fließen) from my tongue, lodges (wörtl. logieren, wohnen) in my hips:
The language of garlic (Knoblauch) and mangoes,
The singing of poetry, the flying gestures of my hands.
I am of Latinoamerica, rooted in the history of my continent:
I speak from that body.
15 I am not African. Africa is in me, but I cannot return.
I am not taína (Name eines Indianerstammes). Taíno is in me, but there is no way back.
I am not European. Europe lives in me, but I have no home there.
I am new. History made me. My first language was spanglish.
I was born at the crossroads
20 And I am whole.
After reading the poem, decide what the tone of the poem is. Cite specific words that support your response. How does the speaker describe herself? Why does Morales introduce the characteristics in the order that she does? Speak about the structure of the poem. And finally, what is the argument that Morales makes?
After an analysis, write a poem about yourself that mimics this poem, its structure and its tone. It does not need be about your nationality, but that is okay too, but I want to encourage you to be creative! Have fun with it.
The tone of this poem seems to be very mild. While it is not powerful from the choice of words and presentation, it shows strength through the meaning of the words. The author describes herself as “a child of the Americas”. She goes on to describe the different nations and cultures that contribute to her as a person. She seems to travel around the globe and pinpoint the places that her heredity relates to. This is a very interesting approach and unique approach, and it helps to give the idea of just how many places Aurora has a connection to. She expands on each point just enough that readers can understand what is happening, which can be very difficult in a short poem. Morales ends her poem with the line “I was born at the crossroads and I am whole”. Although she is from many different places, she is one person. She is her own special kind of person who is a product of her unique experiences with so many cultures. I believe that her point in saying all of this is that just because you are not from one place does not mean that you do not have an identity. You should not feel lost because you do not have one home. The world is your home, and you will thrive wherever you go.
ReplyDeleteI am myself,
Creative like my family,
Humorous like my friends.
I am invested
In music orchestrated by people who I will never know.
I am connected to them, though, through their art,
And it is the most beautiful feeling.
I am in love with friendship,
People caring for each other and wishing for nothing in return.
To know that someone will always be there for you
Is a completely indescribable feeling.
I am not proud, but pride is in me.
It is not for myself but for those around me who I am so lucky to know.
I am not perfect, but I am who I want to be.
I am peculiar and would not want to be anything else.
I am myself.
I am unique and special.
I am me.
Emma, I think you did a great job analyzing Morale's poem, especially in regards to the establishment and realization of her identity.
DeleteI also thought your poem was incredibly insightful, unique, and honest, as I certainly feel that it described you quite well.
I completely agree that the world is your home, and you will thrive whoever you go. I think that was a perfect concluding sentence. We are who we choose to be so we can make the world our own. Your poem is absolutely beautiful, it is very short and sweet. You did an amazing job at writing it.
DeleteI think you did a good job analyzing the poem. I also really liked your poem, it just seemed so you. Good job!
DeleteAurora Levins Morales’ poem “Child of the Americas” carries a tone of what I can only describe as bearing reverent strength. There is a weight conveyed through her highly visual language that shows not only a sense of pride but also firm assuredness in her identity. This firm position is supported by her continual usage of the words “I am”, a clear indication of that identity. Interestingly, this proclamation of identity tends to share a sentence with few other words. In other words, her initial statements are concise but effective with a brevity that perfectly accentuates her point. She then extrapolates on her claims with visually appealing language as can be seen when she describes her heritage: “...Spanish is my flesh, ripples from my tongue, lodges in my hips, the language of garlic and mangoes...” This language serves as her basis for describing who she is. Morales is herself an abstraction comprised of a clear yet unique lineage/history. She formats her poem in such a way that that conclusion can be drawn, with each individual stanza addressing a different cultural or racial identity that has informed her personhood. Morales begins with a proclamation which reads, “I am a child of the Americas.” It is the most directly related to her own sense of national identity as an American. She then begins to speak of her heritage, starting with her parents and grandparents whose identities made her a “U.S. Puerto Rican Jew.” Morales travels further from her personal experience to explore her personal history as “Caribeña” and “Latinoamerica”. She then discusses what else comprises her that, while vital, are not inherent to her personal sense of identity. She concludes by explaining how “history made [her]” and that “[she is] whole” as a result of her blended history and identity.
ReplyDeleteI am a child of connection,
A life guided by proximity to others,
Still inspired by their light.
I am their family,
A daughter of their cold sun and shaded drought,
Of districts crowded with bodies and forests dense with towering trees.
They have formed me.
I am their friend,
A friend of their bubbled laughter and lopsided smiles,
Of late-night stories under the stars and escapades as children of the summer.
They have shaped me.
I am not their knowledge, though the knowledge they have shared has expanded my mind.
I am not their strength, though the strength they have exhibited has built me a spine.
I am not their love, though the love they have shown has softened my heart.
I am a product of influence.
Their presence has molded me from youth.
Their closeness created me.
Anna, I strongly agree with you when you state that Morale's poem conveyed a "reverent strength" that really established and communicated her identity to her audience.
DeleteI also found the structure of her argument extremely interesting, as I felt she began with a broad statement, and then built off of that, which you also spoke to.
And, finally, your poem was exceptional! The metaphor used and the strong connection between ideas really strengthened the poem. Great job!
First off, wow. Your poem was absolutely amazing. Everything flowed very smoothly and transitioned nicely as well. Also, you did a wonderful job at analyzing the poem by Morale. It was very clear that you understood it. Great work!
DeleteIn Aurora Levin Morale’s poem “Child of the Americas,” the author strikes a rather introspective, sincere tone. By speaking in the first-person, and using words and phrases such as “I am (not),” “is in me,” and “product,” Morale is successful in establishing this tone. She is incredibly insightful, delving into her cultural background and other prior experiences to seek out her identity. By establishing this identity within her poem, Morale conveys to her audience who she really is – a diverse individual, one of many backgrounds who has, like most, allowed her experiences to shape her, to form her identity. The structure of her poem, much like the tone, allows her to convey her identity to the audience, beginning with a general phrase “a child of the Americas” and then proceeding to build upon this identity with phrases such as “I am a U.S. Puerto Rican Jew,” “a product of the ghettos of New York,” “an immigrant,” and “Caribena.” Each of these aspects of her identity allow the reader to gain insight into her character, as she then builds off of each of these phrases with a more detailed analysis of who she has become because of each “phrase.”
ReplyDeleteI personally felt that Morales, while not directly stating this, was making an argument about the importance of social/cultural diversity within the United States and coming to understand each others’ differences. Certainly, we all come from different backgrounds, we all have different experiences. And, if we are open to understanding how these have shaped the lives of others, then we gain a certain level of respect for the individual. Otherwise, we close ourselves off to those around us, and open ourselves to the danger of, in the words of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “the single story,” which only serves to divide mankind.
I am a student,
A curious, life-long learner,
A student dedicated to satiating my thirst for knowledge.
I am a student of mathematics,
A product of the challenge and the thought required of the science.
A sum of the discipline and persistence I put forth.
Mathematics is more than numbers; it’s about values and life.
I am a student of history,
One who values the past and the stories that it holds.
To realize that I am part of an ever-changing, diverse world
Only further strengthens my love for the study of the past and its implications today.
I am not “boring,” though I found myself so;
I dispelled this thought, and the thought has not returned.
I am not robotic, the fleeting thought flew by;
My curiosity has changed me, how could that be so?
I am a student.
I love to learn.
My education has changed me.
I agree that Morales was able to set a good tone with her “I am” statements. I did not notive that the way she set up her phrases were to further explain the broad phrase she previously said such as “I am a U.S. Puerto Rican,” followed by “an immigrant.” Great point. Also, I loved your poem, its totally you.
DeleteThis is an interesting analysis of the poem. I think you hit all of the points well. I find it interesting that you related the poem back to “The Danger of a Single Story”. Both works do share beats of perspective, individuality, and unity/humanity. I would also like to add that your poem is a nice insight into what you think and feel. Good job.
DeleteThe poem Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales is a very beautiful poem. The tone of this poem appears to be very relaxed, however, the words used are very powerful which completely changes the tone to being very firm. The words spoken are telling the authors story without going into too much detail. The poem reads, “born into this continent at a crossroads.” Aurora is describing herself as American despite having such a diverse culture. Not a single American is only American. Every single person belongs to more then one culture due to migration years and years ago. She comes from an immigrant family, but that does not mean she is not American. The characteristics are introduced in this particular order because she is describing who she is based on where she lives and then the poem finishes by continuing to describe who she is despite not living in a particular country or place. The main argument is that you can have an ethnic background that contains every nationality known to man and still be an American. Morales is also trying to say that we all are born into this continent at a crossroad. Even though we may not be an immigrant, like Morales, we are American and so is she. Since every single person has a different crossroad, this is what makes our culture so unique, and it causes everyone to come together as one.
ReplyDeleteI am a teammate,
An encouraging and motivating athlete,
A teammate who enjoys excelling and winning.
I am a teammate of the cheerleading team,
A flexible and tumbling fanatic.
Who one day hopes to continue to cheer in the future.
Despite all of the dangers that can occur.
I am a teammate of the soccer team.
Running endless sprints.
Scoring a hate trick.
Enjoying the team on and off the field.
I am a teammate of the track team.
Never ending days of sore muscles,
So sore that you forget what it’s like to feel fine.
Endless hours of running for no reason.
I am a teammate.
I am an athlete.
I am a competitive player.
I agree that her tone was calm and very powerful with her words. Also, I like how tou explained the use of the phrase “born into this continent at a crossroads,” I never thought of it as her explanation for being from many places. Your poem is also very good and really shows your dedication to sports.
DeleteThe poem Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales is certainly a wonderful poem, with a firm tone carried out throughout the duration of it. Morales exemplifies this tone mainly through her “I am” and “I am not” statements in which she describes how she truly is a child of the Americas. She describes herself jumping from place to place, including the Caribbean, Puerto Roc, New York, Caribeña, showing his each location gave her some unique characteristics. I think this displays a firm tone because she uses I am statements to describe how each location contributed to her personality and made her unique, essentially telling us that those places and the influence they had are the reason why she is like she is. She does not deviate from this, remaining consistent the whole way through.
ReplyDeleteI am an athlete,
A determined and persistent person,
A competitor grinding away all year.
I am a member of the soccer team,
A product of playing since I was 4,
Practice after practice, game after game,
Working on my craft whenever possible.
I am a member of the basketball team,
A competitor since grade school,
Completing drill after drill, taking thousands of shots,
Spending each winter in the gym for years.
I am not one who enjoys sitting around,
A day with little physical activity is a day wasted,
I am not lazy, I could not imagine,
The grind and competitive spirit has changed me for the better.
I am an athlete.
I love to compete.
The grind has changed me.
I definitely agree with you that her tone was firm, and it needed to be to get her point across. I also thought it was also conversational, as it wasn't condescending. I also agree your point that each location she describes has helped shape her into the person she is.
DeleteI feel that your poem was exceptional, and describes you perfectly. It really gives the reader some great insight into you as a person.
Great work!
The poem Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales is incredibly powerful and moving. I believe that the tone of the poem was to convey nationalism through heritage. Most of us at one point or another have ancestors who came over into the USA. Along with this comes the strong pride that comes with being American, just as Levins says. However, along with this American pride comes the pride that one must hold for oneself. This is where the heritage comes into play, and Levins shows this through the many foreign words thrown in. She is trying to convey pride through where she had been, where she is now, and where she is going. She describes herself as broken, yet whole. By this she means that she may have all of these different nationalities, but she is still one person. She describes this when she says that she is made by history. She introduces herself as American to begin the poem. I believe that she does this because calling herself American in a way includes all of her other nationalities. Morales is making the argument that we all came from different places, and rather than divide us it should be something that unifies is.
ReplyDeleteI am a child of the Wilderness,
An outdoorsman to the core,
Inspired by God’s beautiful creation.
I am a fisherman,
Since as far as I can remember,
From the beginning to the end of the season,
You will find me on the water with rod and reel.
I am a hunter,
Molded by techniques past down from ancestors,
Perched up in my stand I wait,
Persistent and patient.
I am a camper,
Laughing with friends in the middle of nowhere,
Sitting in a tent or in a hammock,
The soothing crackle of the fire to lull us asleep.
I am an outdoorsman,
I am patient,
I am me.
You made a great point talking about nationalism through heritage, I definitely think that was something she was trying to get at when writing this. Your poem was very fitting for your personality as well.
DeleteMorales is very optimistic for her certain situation. As an immigrant of mixed cultures, she has lived a hard life finding out who she is and how she got to be the person she is today. It is powerful while being calm. She just explains and lets the audience take it how they perceive it. As the name is, “Child of the Americas,” it definitely has meaning in this poem. Americas- plural. She is not just from one place but many and they are all included inside of her. I feel like that subtle hint is big for this poem and it’s meaning. Aurora starts wit her grandparents as being U.S. Puerto Rican Jews, then goes onto her personal life with being Caribeña and Latinoamerica. It is the pathway for how she got to where she is now. She started with her grandparents then to herself. Her structure of the poem is well made, it is not rhythmic but it flows along well. I think 5e main point of the poem is to say that she is many little things that make her a whole. Every small piece of her from each part of the world makes up her whole life.
ReplyDeleteI am a sister
A troublesome sister,
An overprotective sister
I am a younger sister.
A product of family,
An annoyance and loved person,
Someone she has to fall back on.
I am an older sister.
A product of family,
A guider and leader,
Someone always there for her.
I am not perfect, but I try my best.
I am not the top, though I try to be.
I am part of a family that is kept close,
I am a sister and would not want it any other way.
I am a family member,
I am a sister,
I am me.
I definitely agree with you that the author leaves the meaning of her poem to the reader to decide. I also agree that the she struck a very optimistic and positive tone while still remaining grounded in getting her point across.
DeleteI also thought your poem was great because it captures the essence of being a sibling. Whether you are a brother or a sister, I feel that your poem could definitely apply to many people.
I also agree with you on that she leaves the meaning up to the reader. I thought your poem was very fitting since you always talk about your sisters and your family life.
DeleteI agree with you that the author was very optimistic, her words seemed uplifting to me. I also really like your poem about being a sibling, as I can relate all to well.
DeleteAfter reading this poem, I feel that the tone of the poem is informative and conversational, as Morales’ uses the poem to explain her nationality as if she were speaking to someone she just met. The structure almost mimics a haiku, in that the middle lines are the longest and the outer lines are the shortest. The way Morales progresses in the poem, going from one aspect of her nationality directly to the next, is very conversational. When I explain my family history to someone, there is no intense organization to it; I just say I’m one-half Czechoslovakian, one-quarter English, one-eighth German, and one-eighth Irish. Just like in Morales’ poem, there is no formality. That being said, I feel like Morales introduces the characteristics of her nationality in order from the one she most identifies with to the one she least identifies with. When I tell people my history, I do the same. Even though my last name comes from the English in me, I’m am mostly Czechoslovakian, so I usually say that first.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the speaker would describe herself as an ethnic melting pot, something that a majority of people living the Americas can do. This is evidenced by the words, “I am new. History made me. My first language was spanglish.” When Morales says this, the basically says that, while there may be a nationality or ethnic group she finds she can identify more with, there is no denying that every part of her nationality has helped to shape who she is today. I believe that is the point she is trying to argue. She is who she is because of her many ethnicities of origin.
I am resilient.
A student who works hard to be the best,
A worker who stops at nothing to achieve his wildest dreams.
I am quiet and reserved,
Content with living in the shadows of others,
Afraid of making a fool of myself in front of others.
I shy away when the room fills with people,
To find comfort in the solitude of my own mind.
I am distant; I live far away; I am a stranger,
Unknown to people I am around all the time,
Frightened by inclusion, for it is not a normal occurrence.
Weekends are my own; my time to relax and forget;
Surrounded by the comforting confines of my mind,
I am free.
I am not unapproachable. I can be salty. I can be blunt.
But I am not as ornery as I seem at first.
I am not upset. Stress abounds, but it never gets the best of me.
I am a person. I am no different from the next guy.
I am always around,
And I am me.
Jarret, your analysis is great. You poem was extremely good, funny, and you! Great job!
DeleteYour description of your heritage definitely helps you connect to Morales. I liked how you called it “an ethnic melting pot”, and I didn’t even draw the connection between this style and the style of a haiku before you mentioned it! Your poem describes you very accurately, and I think you did an awesome job writing it.
DeleteThe tone of this poem can be described as relaxed and easy going while carrying an immense weight. Morales describes herself as many many cultures even though she was born in America. The poem expresses a wistfulness for other places, Africa, Europe, and a couple others while Morales knows that she cannot go there as she doesn’t belong. Her argument is that everyone comes from somewhere and that all people have a story, especially Americans.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great job analyzing the poem, but you forgot half of the assignment.
Delete“Child of the Americas” is a beautiful poem that shows a great amount of strength. She was trying to explain her nationality throughout the poem. She is not just one race, but a combination of races. She was born of the Americas and raised and her native language was Spanish. She has each race in her in some way. Although she is an immigrant, the English language is her passion. She can easily speak both Spanish and a English, which is amazing. She is a unique person that does not need one home to be herself. It is almost like she is a puzzle with many different pieces that is now whole.
ReplyDeleteI am an athlete
I love the competition
A teammate who supports
I am a softball player
I field the ball with ease
I work on hitting every practice
I need hard work and determination
I am a soccer player
Passing is my craft
I started freshman year
I have continuously improved
I love working hard every day
I am always on the sports grind
Whether I watch or participate
I always have to be doing something
I am an athlete
I persevere
I love helping my team
I really loved your approach to the analysis. You manage to convey her tone rather well by balancing her points and language. “She is a unique person that does not need one home to be herself. It is almost like she is a puzzle with many different pieces that is now whole.” Beautiful! I’d also like to say that I love how your poem discusses your athleticism in its individual parts. It emphasizes the uniqueness of all that you participate in.
DeleteIn Morales poem, Child of the Americas, she expresses herself with a tone of sternness. The use of her “I am” statements also show a type of proudness. She does not change the way she introduces her various ethnicities, rather she presents all the same. She describe herself as a women of many places. Morales introduces herself by explaining what language she spoke from. She talks about the language of garlic and singing of poetry; these things she knows. She introduces the life she grew up in and later explains the other parts of herself, including having Arica and taíno in her. She states that she may have the blood of these places, but she is not them and she does not belong there. Morales uses a repeating style in her poem, and I feel like it gives it thr stern tone. She uses the pronoun “I” numerous times, and this makes the poem really personal to Morales. Her final argument is that she may have the blood of various places, but she is not from those places. She will not be put into a category because of how she looks, rather she will live her life as she was taught with her spanglish and knowing she is not like anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI am an adventure enthusiast.
One who prefers jumping before looking.
I am not one to hesitate.
I look to the stars.
They open my eyes.
I look to books and art.
They show me new lessons.
I like to think and talk about taboo subjects.
They make me think.
I want others to open my mind while I open theirs.
I want to know every secret.
I like to learn new things on my own.
I watch too many youtube videos, and I develop into odd subjects too often.
The world is so mysterious,
And i want to know everything about it.
I am curious. I am amazed at little things everyday.
I will not stop.
I will not stop searching.
Maddie, you did a great job analyzing Morales poem. Also, you did a great job writing your own poem. It clearly define you well. It also mimics Morales in tone and structure. Great job!
DeleteI liked that you emphasized her pride in the poem by using the language that she did. I also liked that you stated that she didn’t categorize herself. Your poem was great, and the last three lines were beautiful and fit you as a person.
DeleteI seriously love your poem so much! Like it fits you so well! You also did a great job on your analysis.
Delete“Child of the Americas” by Aurora Levins Morales is a great and descriptive poem. I feel that Morales is trying to express a sense of pride for who she is and where she comes from. She also explains a lot about her culture and nationality. The tone of the poem is explanatory tone. She repeats the words “I am” many times to show the audience that she has many parts to her whole being and that they are complex and interesting. She used the sentence “History made me.” This statement means that the many cultures she has been apart of and her upbringing helped her become who she is today. She said that she was “born at the crossroads” which goes along with her history because so many aspects of life formed her, but she is still one human being. Morales poem is extremely inspiring and it makes me feel proud to be who I am and proud of everyone and everything that formed me into the person I am today.
ReplyDeleteI am an athlete.
A short swimmer whose stroke is butterfly.
A swimmer who is thankful.
I am a student.
An intelligent student in various subjects
nurtured by many teachers and family members.
I am motivated by my friends.
I am kind.
I find myself showing kindness to many people.
School, sports, and television have showed me kindness in many ways.
Kindness is an amazing trait.
I am not lazy, but I find this attribute within me.
I am a student-athlete
who finds comfort in various things.
I am defined by my character.
I was shaped by people who cared for me.
I am me.
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