Lizbeth Martinez

Ms. Nicole Deliz

21 February 2023

American Literature

What pronouns does the poet use throughout the text? What is the impact of using these pronouns on
the overall message of the poem? Point to specific examples from the poem to support your answer.

The author uses first-person pronouns such as "you," "I," and "ours" throughout. This demonstrates
their desire to communicate directly with the audience. It bridges the gap between creator and
audience by establishing a realm in which both can understand their experiences and coexist in each
other's realities. “My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors, each one yawning to life,
crescendoing into our day…,” this section of the passage establishes a clear distinction between the poet
and those who experience the poem; they are two separate beings who nevertheless follow similar
patterns and live day-to-day lives like others.

What American values does the poet emphasize in this poem? What poetic techniques does the poet
use to emphasize these values? Cite evidence from the text to support your response.

Respect for diversity and the existence of diverse cultures in the country are some of the American
values proposed in the poem. The author wishes for justice and equality because the country is well
known for its diversity and existing prejudice against diversity. This is accomplished through the
consistent repetition of "us," which envelops the audience as connected beings. The author also quotes
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, which is widely regarded as the catalyst for numerous
events aimed at achieving black people's equality.

The poet begins many stanzas with the word “One.” Why do you think he does this? How does this
choice reflect the message of the poem? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

The message is clearly about the coexistence of different personalities and the value of having diverse
groups of people. He does this to emphasize that we live in one world, on one ground; on this earth, and
he says so. The fourth stanza begins with "One ground," and this section discusses our connection to the
earth and how it provides for everyone is needs.

Throughout the poem we find many references to labor and work. Identify these lines and phrases.
What kind of work does the speaker in the poem honor and respect? What are these lines saying about
America and Americans?

“Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper—bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us, on our way to
clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives—to teach geometry, or ring-up groceries as my mother did for
twenty years, so I could write this poem.” (Lines 11-15) The speaker holds high regard for those on the
front lines, such as public employees, teachers, doctors, police officers, waiters, and others who work
for the benefit of others. It demonstrates that this country is full of hardworking, passionate people, and
that we are fortunate to have people who strive for more.
This poem was first read on Martin Luther King’s Birthday celebration in Washington. Explain the
allusion entailed in “the ‘I have a dream’ we keep dreaming”?

This grand and diverse nation of cultures and people has an internally broken system. We have only
tolerance for diversity, which is only an advantage for us as a nation, and people continue to suffer as a
result. These values of individual freedom are not something we have acquired, so we continue to
dream of equality.

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word teeming as it is used in “One Today.” Write
your definition of teeming here, along with any words or phrases from the text that helped you arrive at
its meaning.

Teeming – filled to the brim.

Clues: “Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper”

Watch the video of Mr. Blanco reading “One Today” at the top of this post, and then read the poem
underlining what you think are its most important words. Explain why you think these particular words
and images are important to the poem’s meaning.

The line "the 'I have a dream' we keep dreaming" is so important to this poem's message because it tells
us that our efforts are not in vain. Dreams are aspirations; they are something we can strive for. The
author is implying that the equality we seek is not insurmountable.

What is the meaning of the word prejudice as it is used in the text? Write your best definition here,
along with a brief explanation of how you arrived at its meaning.

Though the teacher emphasized it, it made sense in this context; without fear of revealing your true self,
regardless of skin color, language spoken, or beliefs held. One should not be afraid to speak the
language your tongue speaks that has been passed down through generations.

Identify lines in the poem that reflect the occasion for which the poem was written. How do the lines
you have chosen suggest issues surrounding the inauguration of a president?

It was a significant event, a watershed moment in American history, the inauguration of the first black
president. This is what the Martin Luther King reference meant. A critical step in demonstrating that the
efforts of many people throughout modern history to achieve equality for their people were bearing
fruit.

Read the poem again selecting a line or phrase that struck you as luminous or beguiling. Write for five
minutes about what the line caused you to think. Turn to a partner or small group, read the poem aloud
once more, and discuss the selected lines. Explain the line in your own words that caught your attention,
and why.

“My face, your face, millions of faces in morning's mirrors, each one yawning to life, crescendoing into
our day: pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights, fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges
arrayed like rainbows begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper—bricks or milk, teeming
over highways alongside us, on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives—to teach geometry,
or ring-up groceries as my mother did for twenty years, so I could write this poem.”
This stanza is fun, and their use of descriptive language gives us the necessary information to see the
metaphorical and physical scenes written. It also brought a sentimental feel at the end when he
mentioned his mother, you can feel the respect and love he feels for her and he understands that what
she did was tough, he must have lived a hard life and she must have felt exhausted living paycheck to
paycheck. This section was given to us so we could view through a window the life he lived, and we
could connect with his story more and if that were the purpose it was a smart choice. Regardless, all the
words used in the passage are fun and expressive, it reminds me of yellow and delicious fruits, also
gummies for some reason and then it is like a metallic blue and reminiscent of rust…?