The Cuban Swimmer

I didn't really think that the play would actually be about someone swimming. I guess I was thinking that it was not going to be literal but figurative. I did like it though. Any story where the underdog wins is a great story to me. Margarita was a Cuban girl swimming in the Wrigley Invitational Women's Race to Catalina. It is a long duration of swimming that takes lots of determination. Luckily, she had her family behind her. Her dad was her coach, and although he may have been trying to vicariously live through Margo, Margo was proud to pull through and show that she could do it. Especially after it was mentioned by the press that the chance of her winning was a long shot, Margo realized that although she was at the verge of total exhaustion, it meant everything for her to "dig in" to find an inner energy that would pull her through to the finish line. It made me mad when the announcers were just denouncing her chances and it also made me mad when the family made it seem like Margo was lost forever. Maybe its because I have to have a happy ending. Although I know in reality happy is not always the outcome, in a story, when I become apart of some new adventure, then it has to be happy. If it isn't happy, then whose to say that truly exists. (I know that's a little far) I like how the author mixes in some Spanish dialogue. It allows one to imagine the setting of actually being in Cuba, make it more culturally real.

Lonely Hearts

Without actually reading the explanation after the poem... I thought that this poem sounded like different people in desperation of finding love. Like different people describing why society has outcast them as lonely or the breaker that makes it hard for them to find somebody that would deal or be compatible. With the repetition of the two lines "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" "Do you live in North London? Is it you?" The author is just emphasizing the fact that all these people want is someone who will love them exactly the way they are. They want someone who will see their good points along with accepting their flaws. Someone who will not change the way they are. They don't want to sacrifice who they are in order to get what they want. This last point should never be reached because the moment that it is means the optimal outcome means change and that it has lost its initial intent. Its just that all people simply need someone who will love them for who they are. I tend to be a bit of an idealist but I believe that there is someone out there for everyone. Stand up for who you are, never back down! Always be true to yourself!!!

The Cold Stillness

"Driving to Town Late to Mail A Letter" is another very short poem. To me it is kind of unusual that the title is rather long for such a short poem. The title tells you the purpose of the visit to town though, so it will not be required to actually state it in the poem. When the author mentions something about a mailbox, the reader is not in the blue because they know that the purpose of going to town is to mail the letter. The poem sets up a scene that anyone could imagine, "cold and snowy", "the main street is deserted." You find yourself imagining the scene and feeling the emotion that the poem conveys which is alone-ness. But not loneliness, alone-ness, feeling like you can do whatever you want, you can be your true self, holding nothing back. It is a liberating feeling. A time when you are free to contemplate and gather your thoughts. A chance to escape the perils of life and get lost in your own nature of reality. I think that the author alludes this feeling without stating it so the reader can interpret and relate their meaning of it. The reason I think this message is positive, is because of the use of the words "love" and the statement " I will waste more time." If the other would have replaced these words with "fear" and " I will not waste more time." than the poem would take on a whole new meaning that would venture the human fear of loneliness. But it doesn't so one should not get depressed for nothing!!!!!

White Lies

When I first read the title, my intial impression was that the poem would be about telling lies. My impression was half right but the poem took on a whole new meaning. It deals with racial labels in our society. A black child who had extremely light skin, "light-bright, near-white.....in a black place." It tells of how she could pretend that she was apart of the white society "[living] uptown." Basically, she had to tell lies in order for people to accept her into their groups in society. This classic tale explains a social tendency that prompts that image is everything. Especially, when it comes to the color of your skin, society feels compelled to place you in a certain group or class just based on that, without getting to know the actual person who inhabits that skin. Specifically, it points out society's troubles with allowing blacks equal treatment but it can also be read at a larger level that deals with all society members... if we don't dress a certain way, or own a certain material item, or go to certain places. We are a soceity that preaches individuality but practices conformity. Its just someting that makes me cringe. I wish it could all be stopped but the only way to beat it is to realize that it doesn't matter. All you have to do is realize that you are who you are and the only way you change is if you let people change you. I am not saying that change is always a bad thing, there are concrete, dire instances when it is neccessary but when you are ostrasized just because the color of your skin or because your family doesn't make as much money as the next.... that's when it is too far. This lesson is one that the mother is trying to teach at the end of the poem with the soap. Noone should have to lie about themselves. In the end, it is the best route to accept who you are and be proud of it. The people that truly care about you will always remain.