Magic Island

Poem by Cathy Song

Background

 During the time when Song’s parents lived, certain

United States laws forbade interracial marriage.
Consequently, many immigrant men from Asia
found, through the exchange of family letters and
pictures, brides willing to travel to the United
States to enter into arranged marriages.
Determine Figurative Meanings
(lines 11- 12)

 A simile directly compares two

things using like or as. Poets often
use similes to create images in the
reader’s minds.
1- Which line contains a simile? What is being
compared?

 Line 12: The poet compares the

sky to a swimmer
What image does this simile create in your
mind?

 The sea and the sky blending

into each other at the horizon.
Mention an example of alliteration from lines 1
- 12

 Waves of wind
 The repetition of “w” sound in
waves and wind.
Support inferences about Theme
(Lines 1 – 12)
 Readers can make inferences about a theme,
or message, based on details found in the
text. One way writers convey theme is by
using imagery, or language that helps create
pictures in the reader’s mind.
(LINES 1–12): Describe the park’s setting.

 Surrounded by water; windy; a kite flies

above trees; water and sky are blue. She
used imagery that appeals to sight as
“collar of water” and “blue immersion of
horizon.”
Determine Figurative Meaning
lines 35 - 47
 A metaphor directly compares two things
without using the words like or as. Similes
and metaphors are forms of figurative
language; that is, words or phrases that
appeal to a reader’s senses, evoke emotions,
or imply alternate meanings.
(LINES 35–47): Identify the metaphor in lines 35–36. To what is light being compared?
Identify similes in lines 38–48. Does the poet use these examples of figurative language
successfully? Explain with examples from the text.

 (the sun sifting through the leaves in panes of light)

 (window panes)
 (Lines 40–41: “as if the child were a treasured sack of rice” and Lines 46–47: “a black
umbrella, blooming like an ancient flower”)
 (The figurative language is successful because it uses familiar objects and concepts to create
images in my mind. For example, the word “treasured” makes me understand how the mother
is holding the infant. Also, the word is used to describe a “treasured sack of rice” to show that
the family has experienced hunger and deprivation. The phrase “blooming like an ancient
flower” lets me picture the opened umbrella.)
Support Inferences About Theme
(LINES 28–50)

 Readers can make inferences based

on information and details provided
in the text.
 (LINES 28–50): Explain what you can infer about the way the immigrants
feel in this part of the poem.

 The words “joy” [line 32], “bit of luck” [line 33], and
“happiness” [line 42] indicate contentment;
“suspicious” and “keep expecting rain” [lines 49–50]
indicate caution in this new place. They enjoy their
new life, but they are aware that things may change. I
can also infer that the immigrant is relaxed and happy.
Note

 There is a contrast that runs throughout the poem.

The bright kite that bobs gently in the sky,
represents the joy and happiness of the present
moment and hope for the future. The black
umbrella represents the rainy and gloomy days that
the family has experienced in the past.
Analyzing the Text
 1. Images include a windy day at the shore; a boy napping with his
dog; the woman looking up from her book; the husband sitting
before the grill. The imagery creates a mood of peace, contentment,
happiness, and hope. The images presented show that the husband
has some good luck. Generally, the mood established by the
description of the poem’s setting is pleasant.
 2. The umbrella symbolizes the cautious
approach the couple takes as they adapt
to their new surroundings. It suggests
the idea that the family has come from a
country that has a very old culture and a
rainy climate.
 3. The theme is that, while living in a
new country may bring happiness, it
is not without its challenges.