I love art for this very reason. I think it is fascinating to see how different art pieces reflect the time period and culture they are from.

I knew he was about to be referenced after the title of this section.

I don't believe it is guaranteed to make you a better person, but it can. It can widen your horizon, it can give you a creative outlet, etc.

But it also can do this too. Art has such a broad definition, what one person might not see as art, another will. There is good art, bad art, expected art, and shocking art.

We learn a lot of a things from the Greeks, and it is no surprise that order, harmony, or structure are some of them. I always think of them as a sophisticated society.

The word beauty is truly exceptional, when it's used it is very powerful.

I like how this sentence is short and by itself. A previous English teacher of mine taught me to do this because it emphasizes the point we are trying to make.

I like how clearly the author of this lays out all this information to us readies, it makes it easy to understand and connect to our own reading experiences.

I have actually never thought about this in terms of stories

Style probably draws me in the most, if the formatting is spaced uniquely I always get curious why that is

This is the part of writing I have always struggled with since I was young, it feels so hard to get the right hook

Honestly this is a really effective way of wording it. I hate when I get halfway through a book and decide I don't like it, because then I feel like I have to force myself to finish it.

I am those people. The cover, title, and summary has to be engaging for me, then i might read the first sentence.

I have a friend who was born in Ukraine and I remember her telling me how specifically American therapy was. Where she is from, they don't believe in it and will completely judge you for it.

This makes me sad, you should be able to be accepted and still own your cultural history. It's unfortunate that those are often mutually exclusive

Austin!! My hometown city. I would definitely describe it as "youthful energy" as well, especially when comparing it to the other major cities of Texas.

I imagine how this is how most people feel, it's certainly how i do

This seems reflective of the mimis experiences as teenagers

Does this word have a particular meaning or do they just like to say it?

I myself have not experienced, but I have a number of friends who have feared their family in regards to their sexuality and that is so frustrating to me.

Means sacred marriage

This reminds me of the Salem Witch Trials

I actually really like the way this was phrased, it makes you think about all the different cultures and religions and how you can connect them to the supernatural.

As a major feminist this whole paragraph was difficult to read.

I will say that this is definitely a lot of cultures, including the specific one she is referencing. Although to go back to what I said previously, in my culture of a reform jew we are actually very progressive, so I can't relate to this part.

This could not be more true in our society. I truly believe that every single person is impacted by the culture they grew up in. I myself am Jewish and share many of the opinions that I grew up around.

This just shows the difference in cultures, because how I grew up this is not lazy at all, this is productive.

That must have been so scary- to be the first to leave, to be the first to try and figure out other experiences. It's incredibly intimidating, but they felt that they had to and I can respect that.

That's completely understandable to feel after what she put him through

This poor kid :( just because she doesn't hit doesn't mean its a good relationship. She seems to be pretty absent.

I wonder why? Was it to feel better about herself- to not stress him out?

Reconnecting with nature is a really good for your mental health. It's also a way to deal with anxiety, especially how he said the earth is solid. That's called grounding.

I don't have a good feeling about this. it reminds me of what happened to his brother

Probably a coping mechanism

Resentment

Intense simile, used to show just how painful it is having to deal with this.

The symbol of the birds is very significant to this story- the way its repeated throughout.

Being able to move on from loss and heartbreak is so hard, but so important.

This is so upsetting, people deserve to be able to love whom they choose in peace. I can't say its surprising though after the patriarchal tones of their society in the beginning.

This is a term of endearment, its sweet

This sounds awful to me

She probably works in healthcare. My parents do and I've heard them say on many occasions how important it is for them to get enough sleep for work.

Oh.. so this isn't a happy story?

Good taste! I also listen to these on occasion.

I see some people saying their relationship is unhealthy, but honestly so far it just seems sweet to me. It seems natural and full of life.

This imagery is beautiful, It makes me want to experience that.

Now I am getting the impression that this story is about a couple, the speaker himself seems to have more traditional parents, but now that he is in his own relationship, he is creating his own values and opinions. Like how here he clearly is paying attention to his girlfriend(?) and followed her there.

This seems to take place in a more 'traditional' place, either by location or time. Definitely a more patriarchal view, but then again the speaker said they don't care about it, so they possibly have a more progressive view.

Oh i read another story from her!

the tears from the tequila?

I really love the cleverness of this title and the use of the 2 languages throughout the poem

I was definitely this child (and still am lets be real)

Does this actually happen at certain hotels? I've never been to one that does this.

Because of this line, I believe that the author is not merely talking about welding, but about culture in the world. The melting pot that is Earth so to say.

I love the contrast of this beautiful and warm woman with this name, then compared to the actual cold and lonely meaning of the word

This means solitude, which I find an interesting thing to name your child.

I find it interesting how this line in particular, and only a few others, are in English while the rest is in Spanish.

I like how true this line is. As a whole, this country is not perfect, yet there are still certain things in it that are special to everybody. To me its my family and friends, my hometown of Austin, the mountains of New Mexico, the beaches of California.

I like the analogy of an ocean because like women, it's not simple. It's strong, mysterious, it can have a temper, but it can be calm. Don't mess with it.

This title immediately captured my attention. This term is generally used in a derogatory way, but I like the perspective this author is using. Its almost always used against a headstrong woman- what's wrong with a headstrong woman? Nothing. It's good to reclaim the term.

This is a very powerful ending

The good, the bad: it's all important, because it makes you who you are.

I am horrified that this happened

I like the respective use of the title line. It reassures in the readers mine that he can still be himself whilst also being a part of his culture and history. It's not just a one time passing thought, it's who he's always been and always will be.

I have never heard this phrasing before so I am honestly a little confused. From context clues, I presume it means that they didn't give away any of Mexico's land to any other groups?

I think this is such a significant piece of imagery. It shows how closely and dearly Juarez cared for Mexico.

I had never of him before, but apparently he was the 26th president of Mexico. He tired to get connotational reform for Mexico and fought against foreign groups who tried to overtake Mexico. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Juarez

Was Mexico really free if the parasites (colonizers) remained? Especially considering how in modern day, we know there is more to come.

I think this line is so important to the essence of this poem. His identity is made up of all his ancestors experiences, his countries experiences, his peoples experiences.

My initial reaction to this sentence, before reading the rest of the poem, is that the theme of this poem regards ones identity in a foreign, aggressive land. In particular I assume Joaquin is either from Mexico and moved to America, or was born a Mexican-American. Either way it seems he has to deal with this both internal and external cultural conflict.