In Joy Kogawa’s poem “Where There’s a Wall,” Kogawa uses symbolism to transform the everyday into something unique. Kogawa’s poem repeatedly refers to a wall. “Where there's a wall there's a way. Around, over, or through there's a gate maybe a ladder. A door.” (Kogawa) Here Kogawa uses the wall to symbolize a problem or obstacle that one may encounter in their life. As she mentions throughout the poem, there is always an alternative to overcoming the wall weather that be through a gate, a door or even a ladder, there is always a way. Kogawa is referring to the obstacles and challenges that an individual may face. She explains that even though a wall may be placed in the midst of our path there is always a way to surpass it. However finding