12345 Main Street

Van Nuys, CA
91601

September 18, 2015

Richard Blanco
6789 Poet Boulevard
Bethel, Main
04217
Dear Mr. Blanco,
My name is Sarah ONeill and I am writing you this letter because I read your poem
America in addition to watching you perform the poem online and found it to be powerful,
captivating and even humorous at times. My interpretation of the poem is that your family saw
America as a country they struggled to know and understand. They longed to return to Cuba, but that
dream grew more distant with time. America left me wanting to know more about you, your family
and how they felt about immigrating to America during that time period.
I especially enjoyed reading the description of your family. It was written with a creativity
that expressed their personalities with love and details that made me feel I was a part of your family,
sharing in the experience. I loved how your grandmother and mother, despite their own feelings,
wanted to give you a taste of the American traditions you were learning about in school. I envision a
family wanting you to know your Cuban roots but attempting to support the new traditions that may
take root in the new generation of their family. It led me to wonder, why did your family come to
America?

The poem also left me with many questions about the life of Cuban immigrants during 1970,
a time of conflict between the U.S. and Cuba. When you referenced Kennedy in the poem, was there
a lot of negativity towards the way Kennedy handled Cuba during this time? Did your family
experience a lot of prejudices? I recently took a history class that provoked students to think outside
the textbook and think of how the actions of the people in history would have affected all types of
social groups. This poem reminds me think of every point of view and that there is so much more
information than what we see in texts. It is refreshing to hear a glimpse from a personal account.
Lastly, I have a couple of questions about the last lines of the poem. When the appropriate
darkness filled the room, why was Tio Berto the last to leave? I am currently enrolled in a college
English class and found that many of my fellow students have vastly different interpretations of the
ending of your poem. Did he struggle more than others in your family with the possibility of never
returning to Cuba?
In reading America it encouraged me to also watch your reading of One Today. Again,
this was a powerful and captivating poem that could resonate with so many Americans today.
Reminding us that regardless of who we are or what we are doing in a moment that we are together
and can hope for anything. Your writings are so descriptive. They feel as though they are filled with
so much personal heart and experiences. I look forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for
taking the time to read my letter.
Yours sincerely,

Sarah B. ONeill
Sarah ONeill