Sarah Kay

I firmly believe that poetry speaks to the soul. It feeds the need we have for intellectual reading and makes our brain work toward a deeper meaning. So, what is it that makes a good poem? What makes a poem better than another? In my opinion, it not only depends how relatable a poem is but how well the poetic elements are used to give the poem character. For me, the poem that fits this description is the poem “If I should have a daughter…” by Sarah Kay. This poem is very special to me and also uses imagery to convey the beauty of how Sarah Kay would not only raise her daughter in the future but how my mother raised me.

When I first read this poem, I was in 8th grade and didn’t have the best relationship with my mother. It wasn’t that my mother is or was a bad mother, she just has a very tough parenting style. I see now that this was to push me to be better and help me become the wonderful adult that I am now. Then however, I hated it. I hated that she was so “bossy” and was

My mother has also raised me with her own ways and beliefs. Now, someday when I have a daughter I hope to raise her with as much grace and poise as my mother and Sarah Kay have both taught me. The line that Sarah Kay wrote that sums up how I would one day like to raise my daughter is the very last line of the poem. “ And when they finally hand you heartache / when they slip war and hatred under your door / and offer handouts on street corners of cynicism and defeat / you tell them that they really oughta meet your mother.” (37-39)This quote means so much. I want my daughter to know that her mother has been through so much and is still standing. I want my daughter to grow up and be strong too. I want her to be able to stand on her own two feet. This poem doesn’t just speak to the mothers and daughters of the world, it speaks to everybody. It is a lesson for everybody to be