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Please follow the instructions for writing a poetry précis found on Google Classroom. You may use your own name or the pen name you used with The Handmaid's Tale. This is due BEFORE class tomorrow (portal closes at the start of class).
Ofben
4/10/2026 09:52:43 am
In his poem “Problems with Hurricanes,” Victor Hernández Cruz suggests that the most dangerous things are often not obvious, terrifying forces, but rather the seemingly harmless, sweet things. He illustrates this idea by using hyperbole to exaggerate the dangers of flying fruit in hurricanes, presenting the campesino’s lesson with humor to emphasize the outlandish yet genuine risk of being hurt not by the present danger, the storm, but by fruit, an apparently innocuous and harmless thing. Structurally, the poem switches between the perspectives of the speaker and the campesino, ending with the final line: “If you are going out beware of mangoes / And all such beautiful sweet things.” Through his utilization of hyperbole, and irony, Cruz employs a humorous tone. Due to the campesino’s exaggeration yet earnest guidance, he also employs an instructive tone as well.
Oftim
4/19/2026 06:38:28 pm
Tracy K. Smith, in the poem “Everything That Ever Was” (2011), reveals that the past never fully disappears and continues to affect the present. She develops this idea by using similes, personification and nature imagery like waves, wind, and roots to show how the past returns and influences people’s lives. The poem shifts from general ideas to a more personal moment and back. The speaker is thoughtful and the tone moves from calm and reflective to slightly uneasy, to acceptance. Her main point is that the past will always affect the present and future.
Ofsteve
4/20/2026 11:03:06 pm
In the poem, "Everything That Ever was," Tracy K. Smith introduces the theme that human life is small compared to the vastness of the future, but still full of meaning. The tone starts off reflective and timeless when the speaker explains how infinite space exists within everything, reinforcing the idea that humans are small compared to the universe. The tone then shifts to more emotional focusing on human connection. The last tone shift is present when the speaker reaches acceptance with the size of the universe and the importance of a human life.
Ofsam
4/22/2026 08:13:39 pm
In the poem “Everything That Ever Was,” Tracy K. Smith reflects on the vastness of existence and humanity’s place inside it. She describes how everything that has ever existed, past lives, memories, and moments, is connected within a larger, almost infinite universe. Through imagery and a contemplative tone, Smith suggests that individual human experiences are small, yet still meaningful parts of a much greater whole. Ultimately, the poem invites readers to consider the scale of time and space while recognizing the quiet significance of being alive within it.
OFTOM
4/24/2026 09:24:27 am
In the poem ''Everything That Ever Was,'' Tracy K. Smith illustrates how the universe is huge and full of mysterious, powerful things. The speaker suggests that even as time passes, many things in the universe stay the same. Smith reflects on past experiences and the actions people take to move on with their lives. She uses the word ''wide wake'' to symbolize a person's history or background and how the past follows us no matter where we go in life. Her reflective tone connects the obstacles a person has faced with how far they have come over time. Comments are closed.
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