Poetry Connections The ‘Soldier of Mictlan", "Elliptical", and "Fencecs"

1.What does the speaker’s little sister in "Fences" do to cause her mother to react?

2.In "Fences" what is the speaker’s attitude, or tone, toward the turistas? What details lead you to this response?

3.What differences do you see between the actions of the turistas and those of the speaker’s brother?

4.What fences might the poem’s title refer to? Are those fences literal or figurative, or both?

Mouths full of laughter,

the turistas come to the tall hotel

with suitcases full of dollars.

Every morning my brother makes

the cool beach new for them.

With a wooden board he smooths

away all footprints.

I peek through the cactus fence

and watch the women rub oil

sweeter than honey into their arms and legs

while their children jump waves

or sip drinks