The theme of community is strong here, with passing of knowledge from one to another. The author seems to be calm in the fact that while she doesn't know a lot of things, so long as someone else knows it, she will be able to learn it. Not even that, so long as it exists, she can be able to acquire the skill without someone actually teaching her in person, as the first lady had learned form watching someone else painting. The ages of these two ladies are not mentioned, but in the other poem. the theme of passing knowledge from one to another, especially from the older generations to those younger is very prominent.

The main character's father says one sentence that shakes the main character's world. This paragraph starts off a spiral of the main character's thoughts as she questions her whole life. Has her whole life been a lie? She questions herself about things she had never questioned before, and answers them in the same thought, not knowing what to think, but yet her mind is spiraling out of control.

Many times, people who do not speak English, or know it well enough, especially immigrants, will resort to this behavior. Being overly respectful in order to lay low and not incur anyone's wrath. However, this behavior can make them seem lesser than by others, and as acknowledgement of that.

There is so much corruption in the latter part of the story. When corruption runs in the government, the citizens can feel helpless to do anything. In this case, everyone knows, but no one does anything about it. The people with money, are also those that are in power. In other words, money equals power. This cycle keeps repeating itself because everything flows from top down- the people on the top can only stay on top by continuing their activities of corruption, and by doing this, they reinforce the system in place.

By listening to Farouk, Julius gets his back story and ideologies. He knows now the major events of Farouk’s life that have ultimately shaped him into the person he is today. When we know these details of someone, especially someone we may have met in passing, it can drastically change our view of them. When stories of their pain are shared with us, we may relate due to similar experiences, or simply due to being empathetic, be able to “feel” for them. These feelings will be able to change our initial perspective of the person.

The ending of this passage feels cut short. The detailed description of the poet made me anticipate what he would say, or at least, the content of his words in a summary. Instead, the passage ends with the poet looking up at the room. The last sentence seems like the beginning of another passage with his speech, but the next paragraph is of another topic.

We live in a city full of noise, and try to block it, but there are also those who find comfort in background noise when alone. Is the comfort of hearing voices of another human to lessen the feeling of loneliness? Is it simply the inability to be without the presence of noise? Perhaps our childhood may also play a hand in what we find comforting. It can range, whether it be the murmur of the radio, the sounds of airplanes passing by, or the sirens of ambulances which are unfortunately frequent in New York City. Why do we find comfort in noise, rather than complete silence?

Although they are not as physically imprisoned as those who as prisoners in jail, it can definitely feel that way when everything is governed by those who "own" you. You are mentally and spiritually imprisoned- not allowed to think free thoughts, lest you become crazy from the impossible-ness of leading a life unlike the one they had.

a slender, iron-tipped, hardwood spear used chiefly by southern African peoples

The woman came with the intention to wreck Kerry's career and reputation, thinking that she knew the truth, in which could spoil him. Often times, we jump to judge, especially when the story is one that is full of emotions. The woman only knows one side of the story, but it is all she had known, and she truly believed in it, not bothering to gather Kerry's side of the story. As a result, when confronting and provoking Kerry with her "truth", the other side of the truth came out, lashing out not only at him, but more so at her. Although earlier, trying to seduce Kerry and asking her to accept her as she had been left by him in the past, the tables are turned, and it is a little ironic in how Kerry now is the one asking the woman to accept him, as he is her past.

When all that people know is abuse, they will think that it is normal. Sometimes all it takes is a glimpse of hope in order to finally see the treatment one has been blind to all this time.

In our lives, we have multiple statuses. Some are ascribed- the ones we are born with, such as "being 13", "brother" or "Asian". Some are acquired through skill, knowledge, choice, and or time, such as "teacher", "married" or "having a doctoral degree". Sometimes, we find ourselves stuck in these statuses, and struggle to either fit them, or break out of them, and not let them be the sole definition of us. Margaret accepts many things to be her norm. Not having love, being shunned, being ignored or looked down on, they all, to Margaret, come with being a "Masarwa".

a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy; a generator.

This was the second time I have seen this sentence used, and it is a unique one. Usually phrases like "their hearts were one" would be used instead of bloodstreams. I wonder if blood is very sacred in this culture, along with the importance of familial relations. Perhaps the phrase "blood flows thicker than water" is something the people in this work can relate to, or the author. the author also uses this in conjunction with not needing to verbalize thoughts, so perhaps connecting their relationship as so close that they do not need to say everything in their mind as the other already knows.

Ranko seems to have a one-track-mind, with serving Maru as the sole purpose of his life. He knows nothing else, and the way that it is worded makes you worry a little for the inevitable, and maybe a little curious as to the future. What would happen to Ranko, or rather, what would he do when Maru passes away.

Love can make someone feel like a completely different person. You discover sides to you that you never knew existed, and to the extent that the author would use the word "reborn".

The use of "your people" instead of people in general seems to set a boundary in between herself and the child, as if hammering home "you are different" into the child's mind.

Its astounding that she would refer to a child, a living being that is the same species as her as an object. Is it because of her perceived superiority of herself? Is it because of her race, her upbringing, her social status, her wealth? What would make a human being downgrade another human being in their mind as an object?

indigenous peoples of southern Africa

The use of the comma here is interesting, because it seems to signify a sigh of relief and sarcasm as well. Without the comma, it seems more serious and factual, but with the comma, it makes it less of a statement. Everyone always feel that they aren't the worst type of person, that there's always someone worse than them simply by how they were born, something that can't be changed. The fights among minorities are real, especially since it seems that we are pitched against each other so that we would not stand united against the majority.

It seems as if the daughter had been forced to become a sex slave/laborer or is so used to being raped, that at the sight of a man that talks to her, she spreads open her legs. She has been made used to this- it is routine in her life. Or maybe the mention of her father brings distrust to her due to the men that were searching for her "on behalf of her father" which led her to this situation in the first place.

I think the sentence pertains to how the man with the knife sees whether or not the man he is slicing open is circumcised or not. He realizes too late that the man is on his "side", and this is further emphasized by his use of "Chi, chi, chi", which is repetitive and translates to "Oh, no, no!". The repetitive words make it seems as if he is shocked by his actions, but at that point, there is no return, and he is struck by that realization.