Here can be referred to as multiple different things. It is interesting because the body having literal, physical crystals can often times be a health concern, which seems to be a bit of a recurring topic in this poem. But the concepts of crystals and the body can symbolize other things as well: the crystalline structure in our bodies, rejuvenation, healing, and wellness.

This is interesting because it seems that the body is talked about in two separate ways throughout the poem: "inadequate precinct" where the body is nothing more than a confinement, which could have something to do with the health concerns where, one is trapped inside their body with dyspnea and struggling to connect with their body. It also gets reduced to nothing more than just 'flesh'. It is also talked about in an ethereal, amazing type of way: a person has stars across them and beautiful parts of their body, speaking now as if the body is something to be seen as something to be praised and something delicate, yet strong at the same time. Almost like the stars - you look at them from so far away and they are so delicate, but if someone were to ever get close to them they are strong, burning forces.

The title of the poem is "dyspnea", which means short of breath, or laboured breathing. Where here, Tejeda references that uncomfortable action. It seems though that it is a new experience, where someone elses body is so pleasurable and comforting, and him and his laboured breath are not used to something so calm, but rather feels like they do not belong.

Lack of punctuation throughout most of the poem. This lack of punctuation shows his anger and distress, causing a rushed reading of the entire poem. It also forms it into a list-like style, where he lists off many things that have gone wrong in the hands of white people, so much so that it seems to be endless, like theres no need for punctuation because it will never stop and it will go on and on.

Owls can be seen as good and bad symbolisms. Here, we can see that the owl can symbolize something bad, where some people and cultures believe that owls are deliveries of illness and death. He also uses the word "who" many times in the ending of the poem, which represents the owls sound. This onomatopoeia of the owl is represented through questions of "who is...", etc. which are white people; who is the cause of all of this? White people. Who brought illness and death? White people.

Gonorrhea is known to have been an extremely common STD in Medieval Europe, and later on in history is assumed to have been spread by white people and during their voyages, caused a 'super-spreader' effect. Where now, after looking at certain rates and graphs, gonorrhea is extremely present amongst Black Americans, showing substantially higher numbers compared to white people diagnosed with gonorrhea. This comment that they have terrorized most of humanity is completely true if shown in relation to the spread of this disease.

I have been trying to figure this one out since I cant seem to find anything linking the words; Homo - "same" or a genus of primate Locus - a place where something occured Subsidere - inidcative of subsido which is to crouch or 'settle' I'm thinking this is some type of play on white settlers? Commenting on the fact that they make themselves out to be geniuses and so intelligent that they give themselves awards

Bastille day - marks the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille in Paris, France, on July 14, 1789.

He then references how it is now 1959 at 12:20 pm. Bastille day is a very celebrated holiday, and a very important one too, so much that a New Yorker is referencing it. Three days after this day a tragic event happens, and Billie Holiday's death shakes the world, stopping everyone's breath and movement.

This poem also signifies how he 'remembers where he was the day ___ happened'

Very little punctuation where there should be in this poem. The lack of punctuation highlights the urgency and the anxiety behind the writing of his actions, leading up to the moment where it all stops, "and I stopped breathing". New York is a busy place and he shows this through his many actions, portraying through his writing that it is a nonstop day of moving. The anxiousness behind the writing also implies that there is already some sort of buildup to this final moment

This is a subtle foreshadow that the day is different than usual - for once in her life the teller does not check his balance as she usually does

Gossamer - filmy substance (spider threads) found in fields in late fall. Gown - long, loose, outer garment. Tippet - ornamental piece of cloth. Tulle - fine silk bobbin-net used for veils, etc.

Interesting that this poem is taking place in the late fall, yet it seems as if she is completely underdressed for the weather, yet is wearing an outer garment. Also, the fact that she is wearing a veil. Almost as if she was underdressed for the weather and the occasion (of her death) but threw something on at the last minute as to not make death wait. But, the veil signifies something else, whether just being a sign of her status, or covering her face on the way to her death.

'gazing' grain acts to be a spectator in her death, as if mourners at a funeral

Horses can be a symbol of power and grace, but furthermore in heraldic traditions horses heads can symbolize a readiness for battle. Does this mean that eternity is going to be a battle for her? It seems as if to symbolize the courage she has for embarking on this journey towards death, but could also be a signal of fear that 'eternity' is going to be something frightening instead of peaceful, yet she still has courage to head towards it.

Personifying death as a polite man - stating how he stopped for her, he did so slowly and kindly as if not trying to rush this experience for her. She put aside her life for death and his kindness

death isn't what finally takes them but the moss - implying their loss of identity. The moss eventually reaches their means of expression; the only way they could talk to each other through the room, and when their only sense of identification left is their name, the moss takes that away form them too, titling them dead.

the two, although not knowing each other before, became brethren over the shared experience of death - so much so that they became kinsmen "family"

"barely sufficient" could mean that she died in order to attain beauty but still with these extreme measures it was not enough; also, to "make oneself scarce" is to leave, potentially meaning that she died for beauty but in the end could never reach it

Seems as if this portrays his irregularity - for him to be the single object standing out form the whiteness of the snow, it portrays how (as his childhood should be full of nature - like in part of the dream in Songs of Innocence) nature has no part in his life, but he stays working in the darkness

another criticism of religion - as in the same poem from Songs of Innocence, Blake criticizes how religion is taking away from the boys life, rather than adding any good meaning to it. It keep his parents away, and just as his parents have taken enjoyment out of his misery, God has done the same to the world

singing is (typically) a cheerful thing to think of - typical with the manual labour jobs of singing for entertainment - the boy doesn't sing songs of entertainment but rather of pain and sorrow

Because he was experiencing a normal childhood, his parents took that away from him - sending him to his deathbed for a small profit

This can be reflective of how the boys parents are taking advantage of him, forcing him to work; pretending what they are doing is good when the boy is suffering

Interesting rhyme scheme with weep, sweep, and sleep. The use of both weep and sweep so close together seem as if the two have merged together, like a tongue twister that you're bound to mess up at some point. The use of these two words 'merging' demonstrates that at his young age where he was still crying, he started sweeping chimneys

to "shine" in the sun sounds like they are the best versions of themselves when they are experiencing something that they never have before. That they're glowing, or radiating happiness, comparative to their actual state in which they're covered in soot and in the darkness of chimneys

referencing us as the readers

biblical reference; the sacrificing of his hair (as lambs were sacrificed) in order to maintain the purity held in his hair and not be damaged by his work

If he fulfills his duty as he works his job, he will have God and will only need God; aiming towards salvation from the troubles in their lives - this shows that the boys turn to religion in hopes that it will provide some sort of release for them, but even God won't save them from their laborious misery.

Not only roses, but the colour red is often associated with purity and virginity. These symbols and ideas tie back to the Virgin Mary.

The word "spent" plays a large role in these few lines; Herrick not only monetizes time but age as well. Every day time is spent and when you are young you are in your riches, but as you grow old you become poor in time. It also seems to portray this role that if you 'spend' your youth, but the more you 'spend' it, the worse it gets and the older you become.