(Week 5) Cherishing Memories Through Postwar And Contemporary

Philippine Literature
Directions. Below is a supplementary text entitled “Bonsai” by Edith Tiempo. After reading the
literary piece, please answer the guide questions below.

Bonsai
By Edith Tiempo

All that I love

I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.

All that I love?

Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son’s note or Dad’s one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.

It’s utter sublimation,

A feat, this heart’s control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand’s size

Till seashells are broken pieces

From God’s own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.
1. Describe the persona and the poem’s dramatic situation.
- The author's persona can be described as a beloved and caring mother who wants to share with
her daughter how she handles the power of love in her existence. She is having a conversation
with her about the realizations, moments, and practices she does in order to treasure and nurture
one's love and life. The situation may be viewed as how a mother passed down her knowledge
and experiences to her daughter who is growing up, getting married, or having a big change in
her career or life. The main goal of the mother is to let her child know that it is important to
cherish faithful memories and materialistic things (big or small) as it has become an intention
and action of pure love. There is nothing wrong with collecting keepsakes such as letters and
gifts. It doesn't mean that you are still clinging to the past. It just defines you as an individual
who is affectionate and sentimental. Whatever history you may have with a particular person, we
should thank them for their presence and support. Each and every one of them will always be a
part of your wonderful journey.
2. What metaphors or symbolisms are used in the poem?
The main metaphor used in this poem is the title itself. If you will read the piece thoroughly, you
will notice that the author has not mentioned the word "Bonsai". This is because she used it as a
metaphor to describe how the mother or the main character of the poem shows love through
small archives such as collecting memories and keeping objects that would remind her of happy
times and significant people in her life. Bonsai is a Japanese term for a small tree planted in a
container. This plant has been kept and nurtured artistically but its size and height remain small
and compact. Just like this technique of taking care of trees, the author wants the readers to share
that simple and practical actions of love can be kept and passed on through others like Bonsai.
Every sign of affection we show has sentimental value and the feelings influenced by these
actions can withstand through time. Other symbolisms used in the literary piece are the common
everything things such as the shoe, bill, and tie. These objects are considered ordinary but by
looking at the bigger picture, we can always acquire something personal and touching.
3. How would you relate to the poem? What thoughts or feelings does it evoke?
This poem describes one of my personalities, which is being a sentimental hoarder. All of the
love letters, works of art, gifts, tokens, and pictures from my past are too important for me to
just throw them away. It is always hard for me to let go of something, especially when a
particular matter reminds me of a person who has been a big part of my life. To give you a
background of my experiences, I want to share that in my Junior High School, I studied at a
Science High School. Even though the stress of the academic workload is too much, I am glad
that I had friends there to support me from thick to thin. But sadly, due to the immense pressure I
have dealt with over the past 4 years, I decided to withdraw from the scholarship and part ways
with my best of friends. I remembered that our love language to each other is gift-giving and
writing love letters. Before we say goodbye to each other, we send farewell messages and gifts,
which are still with me up to this point (one of them is a Collin Classics Book). Every time I
read those messages, it always makes me emotional and feel nostalgic. It makes us recall the
laughter and pain we experienced as striving achievers. They are the ones who loved and
accepted me completely and let me experience the true journey of being in high school. Sadly,
we don't have conversations and meetups anymore due to our hectic schedules. But collecting
their sentiments is enough for me to treasure the friendship we had for a couple of years.