The poem is:
Canada Day Love Match
My mother stalked her future
son in law, convinced he was the one
for me. Through the crowd at the Forks Market, she kept behind him like a cat ready to pounce.
I kept out of his line of sight. Blind
to us, he watched other women.
Red turban, sunglasses, shorts, and T-shirt,
a kara on his right hand- a true Canadian.
When I was a teenager, my mother
was much too strict. She kept me in the closet, but I learned from friends with older sisters as my mom did when she grew up in the heat of africa.
My grandmother married at fifteen, did not know desire, and could not share it with her daughter.
I watch my mother, following him to the parking lot to see what he drives.
She races after him, but he vanishes in a sea of red and white hats. She says, "next time we'll get his phone number." We leave empty-handed and walk to the bridge to watch the fireworks. I close my eyes and feel the eruption of silver sparks electrify the sky.
The questions are:
1. Describe the persona speaking in "Canada Day Love Match", referring to details in the poem that support your view.
2. What idea about assessing others does the author of "Canada Day Love Match" convey to readers? Support with references from the poem.
Please help and thank you
No one here will do your assignment for you, but if you write up your answers and post them (please no rough drafts!), someone here will be able to check them for you.
I need help with the last question for this as well. Also i am confused about the mood and tone of the poem. I thought that the tone was calm and passive can the mood be the same thing?
1. The persona speaking in "Canada Day Love Match" appears to be a young woman reflecting on her mother's efforts to find a suitable match for her. The persona describes her mother's actions of closely following a man at the Forks Market, while the persona intentionally avoids his line of sight. This suggests that the persona is not actively seeking a relationship or is perhaps hesitant about her mother's involvement in her romantic life. Additionally, the persona's reference to her strict mother and being kept in the closet implies a sense of restrictions and a desire for freedom.
The poem also briefly touches upon the persona's grandmother's experiences, which indicates a multigenerational perspective on relationships and desire. Altogether, these details present the persona as someone who is observing and reflecting upon both her own experiences and those of her family members.
2. The author of "Canada Day Love Match" conveys the idea that assessing others based solely on appearances and initial observations can be misleading. This is evident in the persona's mother's determination to matchmake based on superficial characteristics such as the man's clothing and accessories - his red turban, sunglasses, shorts, T-shirt, and kara (a symbol of his Sikh faith). However, despite these visible attributes that may suggest a "true Canadian," the man's attention is directed towards other women, implying that his outward appearance does not necessarily align with his character or intentions.
The line "Blind to us, he watched other women" suggests that the man was unable to perceive the persona and her mother's interest in him, highlighting the idea that initial impressions can be deceptive. This notion is reinforced when the man disappears among the crowd, leaving the persona and her mother empty-handed in their attempt to obtain his phone number.
Overall, the poem suggests that true understanding and assessment of others requires looking beyond surface-level appearances and taking into consideration deeper aspects of their personality and values.
1. The persona speaking in "Canada Day Love Match" can be described as a young woman who is observing her mother's attempts to find a suitable partner for her. The persona's mother is portrayed as being relentless and determined in her search, stalking the potential son-in-law at a crowded market. The persona herself tries to remain unseen, implying a lack of interest or perhaps a hesitation in accepting her mother's choices for her. The mention of the persona being kept in the closet by her strict mother suggests that she has experienced restrictions in her life, which may have influenced her perspective on relationships. Additionally, the persona's reference to her grandmother's lack of knowledge about desire and the inability to share it with her daughter highlights generations of limited understanding and communication about personal desires and attraction.
2. The author of "Canada Day Love Match" conveys the idea that assessing others based solely on external appearances or preconceived notions can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities. The persona's mother seems to be focused on superficial aspects like the potential suitor's attire, cultural symbols (such as the red turban and the kara), and even his choice of transportation. However, these details do not provide a complete understanding of a person's character or compatibility. This notion is reinforced when the suitor disappears in a sea of red and white hats, leaving the mother empty-handed. The line, "Blind to us, he watched other women," suggests that the mother's assessment of the potential son-in-law might have been misguided or influenced by her own biases. These references highlight the importance of looking beyond surface-level traits and engaging in deeper connections to truly understand and assess others.