Leica Mae T.

Calooy
Literature 21

As how I perceive it, the poem is a free verse, the stanzas, rhythm, and meter does not follow a
pattern. The poem’s tone would be personal on my opinion because she is sharing her
emotions to her readers. It seems like she is sharing a piece of herself, which also makes me
think that the mood is nostalgic. She wants to keep mementos in a small box or keep them in
something handy and small. She also mentions that she wants to hand it over to a “child” which
also gives me an idea that it could be a family heirloom.
As for the lines:
“for the moment and all time, both”
“scaling love and life down to a cupped hand’s size”
They are suggesting that the writer is saying that time is not definite and that she is trying to
control her emotions.
I guess the writer gave her poem the title “Bonsai” because it literally means “planted in a
container” which she tried to do with her keepsakes.
I would say yes in a way that I try to document the moments I deem important to me, like I take
pictures or put it in my notes, or try to write a short poem about it. In this way, I can go back to
them and try to relive those moments. A simple photo could be like mnemonic device that could
help me remember the feeling of being in that moment again.