He never hits me hard. Married young Not ready, in love. Happy, except sometimes: blue places, scarred, broken dark crying crazy pretty face all beaten and black. Escape.
She is afraid. Please come back, This is the last time Ashamed. He never hits me hard. Found poem from:The House on Mango Street, by: Sandra Cisneros
Original Poem
Marigold
The neat little houses, all in a row, Are shades of white, blue, marigold. The doors open wide, yards flooded with light As sweet smells of supper drift into the night.
The lights fade to pinpricks as I continue my walk, The night becomes colder, these houses are locked Up with bars, with chains, with double padlocks The windows are shattered where gangs propelled rocks.
I turn my face down, as I shamefully know That our one room apartment awaits me below The bar where mom works her life away for us; The bills pile up and the money’s never enough.
In my mind I picture the marigold house, A sweet mother greeting me in a golden blouse Saying “honey, supper’s on the table tonight!” In our permanent address where dad is in sight.
I shake the thoughts away as I quickly recall, I must feed my sister, so tender and small. Reality hits me as I stand in the cold And dream of our life, but in Marigold.
Twitter Conversation Between Characters
This Twitter conversation between two characters in the novel The House on Mango Street represents protagonist Esperanza's determination to rise above her situation in poverty, move away from Mango Street and become a professional writer. Aunt Lupe provides a voice of reason to Esperanza, encouraging her to follow her dreams while still remembering where she came from. Ultimately, Aunt Lupe voices a major theme present throughout the novel: the strength of familial ties and obligations that bind families who are experiencing hardships together.