Expression of Ideas on Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin

# "Sometimes you're the life, sometimes the sacrifice." Write about this quote within the context of an immigrant family. What might a family gain or lose by moving to a new land?

The immigrants especially the Chinese are very independent. Everywhere they go, they set up their own ground to establish their existence in that particular new place.They believe that they are capable in having their own community, even when they go to a new place where there is no Chinese people. That is why every country, and city we traveled to, we will discover China Town. The Chinese has a firm belief in their culture, custom and heritage. They believe that the new surrounding will never change their shells. Everywhere they go, they go with pride in their chests, and always with their head held high. But, that does not mean they are arrogant. They are just simply proud of their history and origin.

As we go through Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin, we know that the persona has slowly putting the Chinese culture behind him. He has been influenced by the how the Westerners live. He was simply being Westernized. When his mother boiled a twelve hour turtle soup from him, he was very angered by this. This shows how he could not accept the old traditional delicacy anymore. It does not make sense to him that by drinking the soup, he'll gain special immune to his body. He even go to the extend of bringing up the history of his Uncle Wu, who unfortunately was killed while trying to murder a famous Manchu. From this, we know that the old story that has been passed down generation to generation is totally out-of-date. The new generation does not bother about it anymore because for them it makes no sense on clinging to it.

Somehow, as you migrate you gained as well. To adapt to the people, surrounding, and environment; you tend to learn how to speak, walk, and eat like them. Slowly, one is changing himself and learn something new in return. For example, in Turtle Soup from the word Pasadena we know that this text was based in America. The migrants get to learn the American language that is English. English is a world renowned language in the world. Therefore, for the migrants to be able to speak and live like them is a bonus point in their lives. In fact, I think they have just stroke lotteries. One has to realize that not everyone back in the native land gets to go to America.

Therefore, I would say that migration does not necessary mean that it is bad. Looking at the bright side of it, we gained as we lose. The Chinese has a saying "In order to gain something, one must lose something in return." We can't possibly be having both at the same time.

*Answers given by the Blogger are of her own opinions, solely*

Exploration on Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin

On the reference to Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin 

1) Notice the author's choice of the word "cauldron" in line 4. What images or connections does this word evoke? Why might the author have chosen "cauldron" rather than "pot"
--> The word cauldron itself was stereotyped as a bad image for the witches. However, in this text the cauldron was signify as the unstable emotional current from the speaker's mother who has a firm and strong stand in the Chinese culture.

2) Chin refers to "the Wei","the Yellow", and "the Yangze". Why does she reference these rivers in China? Why not include the Nile, the Amazon, or the Mississippi?
--> That is because the turtle plays a very significant role in the Chinese community. The turtle was portrayed as "the symbol of long life". The Chinese community does have a concept that to those who consume turtle soup will remain healthy, and live to hundred years. It's a luxury delicacy in the land of China as well.

3) What is the tone of this poem?
--> The persona, due to his growing environment and surrounding feels ridiculed by the mother's action of boiling Turtle Soup. That caused a massive misunderstanding to both parties that ends up with an argument. From the argument they had, we can feel an excessive anger that has existed in the text.

* The answers given by the Blogger are the result from the discussion she had with her group.* 

Turtle Soup by Marilyn Chin

                                                        Turtle Soup

You go home one evening tired from work, 

and your mother boils you turtle soup. 

Twelve hours hunched over the hearth

(who knows what else is in that cauldron).

You say, "Ma, you've poached the symbol of long life;

that turtle lived four thousand years, swam

the Wet, up the Yellow, over the Yangtze. 

Witnessed the Bronze Age, the High Tang,

grazed on splendid sericulture."

(So, she boils the life out of him.)

"All our ancestors have been fools.

Remember Uncle Wu who rode ten thousand miles

to kill a famous Manchu and ended up

with his head on a pole? Eat, child,

its liver will make you strong."

"Sometimes you're the life, sometimes the sacrifice." 

Her sobbing is inconsolable.

So, you spread that gentle napkin 

over your lap in decorous Pasadena.

Baby, some high priestess has got it wrong.

The golden decal on the green underbelly

says "Made in Hong Kong."

Is there nothing left but the shell

and humanity's strange inscriptions,

the songs, the rites, the oracles?

                                                                      Marilyn Chin

Explorations on Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note

On reference to Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note by Amiri Baraka (1961)

1) What is the mood of the speaker in the opening lines? What images suggest his feelings?
 --> In the opening lines, the speaker sounded depressing. The lines were full of sorrow and ultimate
       sadness. It gives an illusion as if the speaker is helpless. 
       Evidence : "The ground opens up an envelopes me"

2) What is the significance of the daughter's gesture of peeking into "her own clasped hands"
--> In my opinion, it signifies that the speaker's daughter has hope. The daughter at a young age 
      (age not stated in the poem, assumed by the blogger) does not have any stress, and depression.
      In fact, she was in her own world, her own bubble; "talking to someone". Or perhaps, she was
      upset, but she chose to let it go by talking to herself or someone as the speaker put it into words.
      However, readers need to be aware of the line "Only she on her knees". This line indicates that
      she was kneeling down. In this case, she was probably praying and looking up for the Holy Guidance
      from God the Almighty. 

3) What does the title mean? How does it explain the closing line?
--> The title "Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note" carries the meaning of the introduction of a
       collection of suicide notes. However, it has zero connection to the closing line. The closing line shows 
       hopes and lights. That not everything is bad and dismal. If only we seek and never stop finding solutions
       to whatever problems and troubles that we are facing, eventually things will get better and we will be at
       ease.

4) Why does Baraka have three short lines, separated at stanzas? How do they convey the message of the 
     poem?
--> The three short lines, "Things have come to that", "Nobody sings anymore", "Her own clasped              hands". Personally, from my point of view I think the three short lines were written to emphasis the
       seriousness of what is going on in the speaker's mind. That everything has been fated to be in that way.
       No jovial spirits to be found. But, through God we find hope. 

5) Why does Baraka begin stanzas with "Lately", "And now", and "And then"? What do these transition 
     words accomplish?
--> "Lately" ~ How the speaker used to have negative, and hopeless thoughts running in his/her head.
      "And now" ~ Slowly, the speaker is trying to change his/her views and perspectives on life.
      "And then" ~ The speaker caught the view of  his/her daughter kneeling down and was talking to
                           someone, presumably to God. Nothing is impossible to achieve. Every task given by
                           God has been meted by God according to your abilities. Nothing is out of your league 
                           if you were to face certain issues or problems in your life. For God will always at your
                          side, patiently guiding you. 

6) How does the speaker feel about his daughter? What does she represent to him?
--> The daughter of the speaker represents him hopes. She was seen with lights. It helps shed the speaker's 
       negative vibes away.  

*Answers given by the Blogger is of her own opinions, solely*

       

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note by Amiri Baraka

Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note

Lately, I've become accustomed to the way

The ground opens up and envelopes me

Each time I go out to walk the dog.

Or the broad edged silly music the wind

Makes when I run for a bus...

Things have come to that.

And now, each night I count the stars.

And each night I get the same number.

And when they will not come to be counted,

I count the holes they leave.

Nobody sings anymore.

And then last night I tiptoed up

To my daughter's room and heard her

Talking to someone, and when I opened

The door, there was no one there...

Only she on her knees, peeking into

Her own clasped hands

Amiri Baraka

Explorations on Incident

On reference to the poem Incident by Countee Cullen. 

1) What is the nature of the interaction between the two boys? 

 --> From the text, we can feel that there were positive vibes between the two boys.

       Evidence : "Heart-filled, head filled with glee"

       The Baltimorean, as the writer described the other boy left us with no clue as in

       whether the Baltimorean is a local white boy or of other races. Nevertheless, we 

       are sure that he (the boy) is of the race that differs from the "Nigger" boy. 

       Everything, the whole incident was a pleasant occasion where there were just this

       two boys seeing each other without addressing one another. Not until, the Baltimorean

       poked out his tongue and snarled to the other boy and called him "Nigger".

2) Why does the speaker remember nothing more than the incident, even though he stayed 

     in Baltimore from "May until December"?

--> In my opinion, the speaker does not and could not remember anything during the 8 months

      period is because the word chose and used by the Baltimorean has inflicted severe pain on 

      the speaker. It was so painful that it overshadowed his life for 8 months, leaving him feeling

      hollow and nothing. It was a brutal reprimand from the Baltimorean, who maybe does not

      aware of the pain and indignity the "Nigger" has to endure. 

3) What is the power of language? 

--> Personally, I think the power of language is how a certain words can shake things up, 

      especially words that exist to degrade, and to imply racism. Words like slut, whore, 

      nigger and negro can cause chaos and it certainly can cause mother disasters, literally. 

4) What are the effects of the use of the term nigger? 

--> First and far most of all, we need to acknowledge that slavery and racism are still rampant

      in America. The issue might have been suppressed, tolerated, and controlled well in certain state 

      in America. However, we need to know that this issue is pretty much still alive. So, when 

      someone out there who's brave enough to slurred the word nigger, he or she would have 

      been beaten up or killed, in which the rarity is close to infinity. Why, you may ask. Why?

      The reason would probably because the Blacks are still afraid of the "superior Whites",

      and they are trying to be as oblivious as possible in order to maintain peaceful and any headline

      in the newspaper front page. The term nigger can definitely cause uneasiness,and dissatisfaction.

      Furthermore, it would feel as if someone has stabbed a pointy dagger in your chest, and you in 

      return find it hard to catch a breath. The use of nigger will definitely inflict excruciating pain to the

      those who has been labelled, nonchalantly. 

*Answers given by the Blogger are of her own opinions, solely*

       

Comparison on "Incident by Countee Cullen" with own experience

This delicate poem created by Countee Cullen, an American poet who was a leading character in Harlem Renaissance has a deep connection to my own experience. It might not be as radical as what is portrayed in Incident but it affects me emotionally and mentally throughout my life. 

   I was born a mix-blooded child in my family. My mom is of a Thai citizen and my father on the other hand is a local Malaysian Chinese. Unlike my brother, I did not inherit any Chinese trait. I am of a dark skin-toned girl. Growing up, I was always been made fun of. Classmates of Chinese ethnicity looked down on me. No particular good friends during primary school years. They befriended me because I was able to help them in their homework especially homework in English. I still remember vividly on how they talked to me. Underlying every word they uttered and every sentence they spoke, sarcastic elements were never far away.

   Referring to two stanzas in the poem, "And so I smiled, but he poked out His tongue and called me, "Nigger".", this shows how the kid of different colors being discriminated by the ethnicity of majority, how the community underestimate them, and how they look at them without feeling an uncanny victory in their hearts for being able to oppress them mentally and emotionally. If we look through the history of America itself, we'd know how terrible the racism issue in America. The Blacks were often treated as slaves and they were not allowed to enjoy and share the same laws as their other counterparts. Being lynched by a mob of Whites but no sound of objections and arguments could be heard from them. Why? Because the law is not in their favor.

   I am not black but tanned.  However, that was how I was being labelled of - the black Siamese girl in the class. I was hurt and dared not complain, as I know this will greatly hurt my mom's feelings. The golden complexion that I was born with is my honor that I do not know how to appreciate back then. I constantly being overshadowed by the need of wanting to have fair skin-toned just like all my friends do.

   People will change as they grow because through the ups and downs of growing up and the phase of entering the adulthood, people gained experiences. They will encounter a lot of people of different colors, backgrounds and religions. They learn to tolerate and slowly accepting the fact that others who are different in appearances are as good as them. I changed. I love and cherish myself more from this painful experience I had endured. As for them ( my ex-classmates ), I do hope that one day they will realize that colors don't matter at all. We are human beings after all. Created by the same Creator and breathe in the same air, just like others.

 
* This was based on the Blogger's own experience * 

The Poem - Incident by Countee Cullen

                   

                        Incident

Once riding in old Baltimore,

Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,

I saw a Baltimorean

Keep looking straight at me.

Now I was eight and very small,

And he was no whit bigger,

And so I smiled, but he poked out

His tongue, and called me, 'Nigger.'

I saw the whole of Baltimore

From May until December;

Of all the things that happened there

That's all that I remember. 

Countee Cullen

Women in Poetry

    Women play an important role in the literary world, especially in poetry. Often, poems coming from the women have a strong relation to the dissatisfaction faced by the women themselves. Women tend to channel their thoughts in writing forms. As far as our knowledge brings us, we are all well aware that women writers back in the day before 21st Century were often kept in the kitchen. Women were not allowed to voice out their opinions on almost every issues, except sadly only on topics regarding to keeping the house and raising the kids. Back in those days, women only have kitchen talks among themselves. Their opinions were being suppressed, even their husbands won't pay much attention to it. Problems were kept to themselves. On certain cases, it became worse and caused traumatic experience for the women. Human beings are not born to held their feelings, emotions, and needs solely to themselves. That is why, texts from women often portray their problems. Thus, the birth and evolution of feminist criticism.  Writers like Emily Dickinson, Naomi Shihab Nye to name a few had made a huge impact in today's society. Their contribution is unexceptional in educating women to be independent and not afraid to stand tall among the harsh society, dominated by the males.

    Here's an example of poem by Naomi Shihab Nye, All Things Not Considered. This poem is about the innocents who lost their lives to the war. Wars happen because of the political interests among the bourgeoisie. The setting for this poem is in war torn countries, possibly between Isreal and Palestine. I made this assumption based on the particular words found in the poem such as Palestinian, the Jewish Boys, Jewish and Arab women. Houses were bombed and scattered to pieces, and the livings were killed. "A brother and sister were playing with toys when their room exploded." 

    "The Jewish boys killed in the cave were skipping school, having adventure." This sentence gives the picture of a naive, inexperience, jovial and free-spirited boy whose life was taken away swiftly from the unprecedented incident that happened on him. The words terrified and die give an idea of death, pain, and terror. "I spit in the face of this ugly world.", uttered by an Arab father who had buried and wept for his 4-month-old daughter. From this, we literally can feel the pain and agony experienced and underwent by a father. "Huddle under cliffs, eat crumbs and berries." This is exactly the excruciating situation faced by the homeless refugees. They constantly seek for a safe place to accommodate their families and survive only on petty food. "Some picked up guns because guns were given." The aimless and oarless uneducated people will definitely fall into this trap. They were not taught of the right and wrong. They blindly accept whatever that comes in their way. Wars continued, and lives being taken away mercilessly with no chance of speaking for themselves at all. However, "Jewish and Arab women standing silently together.". This strong and solid evident proves that wars are created by the selfish, greedy, and inconsiderate men not women. Wars happens to feed the greed of mankind, and to satisfy their unrealistic ego.

http://rinabeana.com/poemoftheday/index.php/2005/12/04/all-things-not-considered-by-naomi-shihab-nye/