The poem "A Chinese Banquet," by Kitty Tsui has a lot of emotion involved, and conflict as well. The author expresses the mother, and daughter to have a close relationship. I think the theme, and words have a few areas where it completely contradicts the daughter and mothers loving relationship towards one another. The lines 25-28 explains that the mother no longer asks when her daughter is getting married. Her mother wants her to be married, but as her words show she clearly has doubts about her daughter, and marriage. I think she feels her daughter is sidetracked, and cant focus on things in life such as marriage, and work. She says"you're twenty six, and not getting younger," this showcases that she feels her daughter is wasting away her ideal image of perfection for her daughter meaning having all the things in life at a young age she wants her to achieve. In the lines 26-28 she explains how she does want to get married, and bridge the boundaries that separate her and her mother. I found this to be the contradiction of her wanting to be close to her mother, and her mother thinking otherwise. In lines 41-44 its shows that the daughter is not accepted by the mother although, she has such pride in her. She neglects her as a mother because the daughter admitted to saying "I love a woman". She does not want her around for anything, but yet she has all these expectations for her daughter. This particular poem has a theme of a loving relationship, although it has lots of contradictions it appears the mother is confused of her relationship she wants for her and her daughter. In the end I think it creates a image of the daughter trying to be close to her mother, regardless of the circumstances involved. It is showcased in lines 49-52. The sentence saying my home is in her arms.
The poem "Commitments," is written by a gay black man, Essex Hemphill. He conveys how it is to be different through writing and poetry. He is a powerful writer. He can portray all his emotions in just this poem alone. He revels the need of acceptance for gays, and their families with same sex marriages working together in their communities, although Hemphill hesitates with his family to discuss his own homosexuality. To me the author portrays that his family had no inclination about his disposition. This short story stands out in front as I have a friend who is gay. My friend struggles to express his identity with his family, because he is afraid of what they will think about him. I go visit him at his house, and his own mom acts like he is an invisible person. It's really sad to see this type of position he is in. He tells me his mother is a very religious individual, and if he conforms to showing any kind of different sexuality she will kick him out. I think this is morally wrong, because that is her own child she needs to be supportive of. This must be awkward, I can empathize with the author as well. The end of this poem stood for me on how many expectations family can have. He expresses that he is the "invisible son in the family photos".He is not in the spot light with a beautiful family like the cameras sight, and focus is on the families, and their children. He conceals himself hiding his display, a smile he must smile as he states "this is his duty to his family". You can see how much expectations can come from a heterosexual family. In lines 13-18 he conveys how his arms are empty in the photos with children being held by their parents. He states that his family has "unsuspecting aunts who will be throwing rice at his wedding some day". The author also revels how a typical family barbecue would be with "blackened chicken, glistering ribs, bottles of beer, and pop". This seems like a good time, but to him there is still a yearn for a secret to reveal.This poem met my expectations with how hard it is to be different, with the strong demands from a family.The lines 13-18 he really touches point on how he felt. I admire how he can put so much emotion in just 6 lines. This would inspire any writer to write with so much substance.
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