Frances Mejia

Mr. Flake
Honors English 12
14 September, 2014

Mejia 1

Poem Analysis

G.E Pattersons use 2! of parallel structure and punctuation demonstrate the tone and
gratitude of the poem. As someone would read through this poem it is very easy to see the visible
uses of parallel structure and punctuation, which are two elements of literature that stood out to
me while I read through this poem.
The use of parallel structure helps show a repetition of somethings importance and
meaning that the poet wants the reader to focus on. Stanza two shows parallel structure; I was
given gloves against winter cold. I was made to wear gloves when I gardened. I was made to
garden; taught to hold forks in my left hand when cutting, on right when bringing food to my
mouth. Everything. The poets shows the gratitude of the poem here by the use of his words. I
was repeated, and I had in the next, both help put emphasis on the words he actually uses. For
instance when he says gloves against winter cold, and clothes I was told not to wear
outside;he grew up having people who cared for him and helped him be able to take his lessons
with him when he grew older. He showed gratitude over the lessons learnt that many people see
as a normal thing.
The use of punctuation is very consistent in this poem, and it helps set the tone. When the
poet wrote pure, simple harmonies of church music, echoes of slave songs: scraps of candy
wrapper airborne. Everything, he is is setting the tone more solemn by the commons and long
pause. This tone stays throughout the poem and it gives the reader a harder time to understand
the effect he is trying to convey through the tone because of it. At the end of the poem, ..;the
best teachers, white or colored. Im not making this up. I knew that I had everything. Still do.
the tone changes to be a bit more earnest because his periods used showed so much more

Frances Mejia
Mr. Flake
Honors English 12
14 September, 2014

Mejia 2

Poem Analysis

meaning how the things available to him then are still available to him now and how that seemed
to be a big factor to show the readers that it wasnt a temporary thing.
To convey the tone and gratitude, many points were made all over the poem to help
demonstrate this by using parallel structure and punctuation. The gratitude the poet had more
than anything tided in to the meaning of the poem which to me relates to how the poet grew up,
and how his background could come from a more judgmental community the others. This helps
show how to the poet, the things others learned though out their life are important and more rare
when he learned them.