The Body's Question

In this book of poetry titled The Body’s Question by Tracy K. Smith, the author attempts to inform her readers by taking a perceptive view. The issues range from adolescence, race, family, adulthood and death. Her primary focus is image in most of these poems. In this paper I will attempt to show the different forms of imagery the author uses in the end of the first chapter under the section entitled “Gospel.” The imagery details the immigrants’ struggles. In using these five poems I will show the graphic imagery that the author uses to clarify this continuing story. I chose this section of the book because each of the five poems tells a story of someone’s journey on their path to freedom. Also the imagery the author uses from the different experiences on that journey brings out the detail of the trials and tribulations these people had to face on their voyage to the United States. My question is, do u feel the images the authors make in reference to their struggles made the poems clearer? I will attempt to answer this question throughout the paper.

“Gospel” is written from the perspectives of five different illegal Mexican immigrants crossing the boarder into the United States. These poems tell an o

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The last poem is entitled, “Gospel: Jesus. ” This poem tells of what happens while they are in America and the joys they feel now that they are in this country. This image of a man speaking with such a timid tone while he tells these stories of heartbreak and emotion shows that just by his tone of voice, these stories are genuine. The author tells a story of how they left their homes and their families in search of freedom and better opportunities for them in the United States.

The next poem is titled “Gospel: Miguel (el Lobito). The eyes can be seen from far away because it is so dark. The author says, “I remember how deep the dark got” (13). ” This poem talks of the journeys they took to cross the boarder into the United States. Manuel is telling a story of how Mexicans were able to sneak their way into America, leaving the turmoil going on in Mexico. ” This poem is of siblings who are fighting to save their home in a war that’s destroying their town. ” This poem was the hardest for me to understand because it is unclear.

The next poem is entitled, “Gospel: Juan. Also with the strong imagery all of the poems possess it almost makes you feel as if you were right migrating right alongside these men.

Approximate Word count = 1124
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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