Poem Discussion

Theme: In the very beginning I thought the theme would be freedom. However continuing reading, the theme changes. I feel as though the theme is just Change.

Tone: The tone of  the beginning is hopeful/curious. Towards the end it is devastation/ monotone.
Mood: Discontent.

I skimmed through Jessica's post, it was very easy to understand. I agree with her on this being a poem on people coming to a new country in hopes of better things. I liked her main image on comparing people coming to a new world to prison. Re-reading the poem it does feel like prison then a new country. 

Stanza 1: 

• Description of their travel to a new land i.e. doctor, papers, court, jobs
• Jobs in different country (what they're meant for) they won't be able to do in this new country
• The tests they take remind me of history where immigrants from Italy going to New York would need to have a painful eye exam  
• Baca states "...counselors orient us to the new land we will now live in." I feel like it sounds like school where counselors show you the new school. From the stories I've heard of my people migrating here from Mexico, the officers don't show you around. It's a double meaning of some sort.

Stanza 2:  

• Baca states again that " The administration says this is right, no mixing of cultures," I feel as though the administration is still living in the 20th century where people stay in their lanes; where this is still segregation. This poem must be around that time.
• Low paying jobs, just like immigrants now
• "Temporary" is a plain out lie said by administration so they can keep working
• Rehabilitation? Prison or Migrating!? 

Stanza 3: 

• Getting away to go to a new, beautiful, safe world
• Beautiful, safe= (Reality) horrible, same as usual
• "lives" don't matter
• people don't care about them

Stanza 4: 

• "bars"= prison?
• house tools (i.e. sinks, bathrooms) malfunctioning
• clothes on lines, no dryers?
• old days? Seems like before 1920s
• Joey and Felipe- Two men of different race

Stanza 5: 

• new immigrants with dreams and hopes
• Just like him back in the day
• look down? Cell on the top?

Stanza 6:

• explains what happens to those dreams
• different way people cope with it
• Many things changed since being in there
• few make it out of here

Question: Jail, Rehabilitation center for immigrants?