Book Discussion

What does it mean?

 Is that a metaphor?

Do we suspend disbelief? 

How about the ending— 

did it work?

 Did the author earn the ending? 

Compare. 

Contrast.

 Decipher. 

Delve.

Dig deep.

Breathe.
The author does not
tell you where they
started out, their home.

The geography

of place

does not need a name.

I am from six trees

surrounded by cement,

from fire escapes

and subway cars

where the smell of sweat

can’t be hidden on hot days

I am from knowing how

to fold the newspaper

from a butcher shop

with sawdust on the floor

I am from the candy store

that sold the Yiddish paper

and a grandmother who cut

out stories and saved them

in a box in her closet

I am from three rooms

and windows with chains

I am from study hard

and read books

from different shelves 

in the library.