What scene is depicted in the last three lines? What will be ...

[futuristic]

What scene is depicted in the last three lines?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Where do you find regular patterns or examples of rime in this open form poem? Are they obvious or subtle?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 3

How would the meaning of this short poem change if you dropped one of the languages?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Joc]

Answer to Question 1

• The crucifixion of Christ between the two thieves, while mocked by a jeering crowd: it is through Christs suffering and death that the suit is grantedi.e., the soul is redeemed.

Answer to Question 2

A number of the poems lines1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 13, and 17might be scanned as approximating to iambic pentameter. Since Nyes rhythms are frequently so relaxed as to admit more than the usual number of unstressed syllables, this pattern could be described as subtle. Other linesnotably 3, 8, and 9while shorter than pentameters, also have a pronounced iambic beat.
The poem also contains a fair amount of rime, some instances of which are obvious and others significantly less so. Consider:
all small (line 3) / falls (7) / fall (11) / small (11); today (2) / layers (5) / way (6); kneel (2) / peeling (4) / revealed ( / meal (12); How (12) / now (15); eat (12) / meat (13); and tears (10, 11) / career (16) / disappear (18).

Answer to Question 3

The poem is greater than the sum of its two side-by-side parts. Each of the columns, one in Spanish and one in English, makes a simple statement that might be fairly described as a greeting-card sentiment or bumper sticker slogan. Bringing these two texts together, however, suggests the possibility of levels of meaning having to do with language, history, politics, and international relations. Is the us of the poem two lovers, two friends, two nations? Is Alarcn making a political statement about the relationship between the United States and Mexico, or should the poem be read, rather, as an intimate communication by the speaker to his or her beloved?