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.
