Chi
Ms.Daugherty
Writing Level 6
April 28,2015
Identity Poem Analysis
In Julio Noboa Polanco’s extended metaphor poem, called ​
Identity​
, the author
personifies plants by giving them feelings. He compares weed and flowers to humanity,
they to flowers and him to an ugly weed. The author expresses himself vigorously about
what kind of person he would prefer to be. Polanco uses a structure of extended stanza to
explains that he would rather be a tall ugly weed instead of being a flower harnessed in a
pot. Freedom is a huge theme as it developed throughout the poem. The main message that
Polanco gave to the readers is that being independent is more suitable for him than being
popular and wanting everyone to notice you when you can be free instead.
The first stanza starts with “Let them be as flowers, always watered, fed, guarded,
admired, but harnessed to a pot of dirt ”. This line consists of a metaphor stating flowers
are beautiful, but a flower lives in a pot while a weed can lived anywhere. The theme of
freedom is already developed in this first stanza, as you imagine beautiful flowers in a pot
that can’t go nor branch out anywhere other than where they are planted. This gives me the
visual of being in a prison where you are always guarded.
Moving into the second division “I’d rather be a tall, ugly weed, clinging on cliffs, like
an eagle wind-wavering above high jagged rock “. This line gives the reader a strong image
through Polanco’s imagination. The image I get is an eagle flying in the sky with the wind
because it can go anywhere. The metaphor is used as he rather is a“tall ugly weed” while a
strong simile is seen in the line “like an eagle, wind-wavering above high jagged rock”.
Personification is also presented in this stanza where “wind-wavering” is used as an eagle
flying in the sky with the wind.
The third stanza Polanco stated that weed are able to grow “through the surface of
stone” meaning they can grow on rock and live how they want. To be swayed by the
breezes of an ancient sea, carrying my sold, my seed, beyond the mountains of time or into
the abyss of the bizarre” meaning that the weed are not seed that need to be planted or be
watered because they are wild and free. It can grow anywhere and it would not need
someone to depend on watering it or taking care of it. I strongly agree with this stanza
because I see weed grow everywhere but flowers can only grow in some places and most of
the place are in gardens or homes.
As a matter of fact, moving into the fourth stanza of Polanco’s poem, he continues to
use metaphor and personification, comparing the experience of a potted flower and an ugly
weed. He describes the weed full of imagery of freedom, wildness, and unfettered existence.
Polanco compares the flower as being controlled and guarded while and the weed is
independent and ungoverned.“I’d rather be unseen “then shunned by everyone” the author
writes fourth stanza. He explains that he’d rather be a hidden weed and not a flower that is
loved by all because it is fertile, handled and eventually plucked by everyone. I agree with
this line because once in a while, everyone just wants to be independant, and not wanting
to deal with other people or have them deal with you.
Lastly, the last stanza Polanco stated that he would “rather smell of musty” than
fragrant lilac. This gives me the smell of rotting food versus the smell of flower fragrance. I
feel like if freedom takes you to become an ugly weed then, “I’d rather be a tall, ugly weed”
like Polanco stated. As you can tell, the author has his point of why he want to be an ugly
weed because he have the ability to be free and become the person he want to become.
“Identity” is a powerful poem reflecting on you as a person and who you want to be.
The author has a serious tone to allow the reader to see his point clearly. Every stanza
develops a firm idea why the author wants to be independent. The author also connect
himself as being independent to being free and wild. Readers reading this should be able to
connect themselves with this poem whether they are independent or not.
Identity
by Julio Noboa Polanco
​
​et them be as flowers,
L
always watered, fed, guarded, admired,
but harnessed to a pot of dirt.
I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed,
clinging on cliffs, like an eagle
wind-wavering above high, jagged rocks.
To have broken through the surface of stone,
to live, to feel exposed to the madness
of the vast, eternal sky.
To be swayed by the breezes of an ancient sea,
carrying my soul, my seed,
beyond the mountains of time or into the abyss of the bizarre.
I'd rather be unseen, and if
then shunned by everyone,
than to be a pleasant-smelling flower,
growing in clusters in the fertile valley,
where they're praised, handled, and plucked
by greedy, human hands.
I'd rather smell of musty, green stench
than of sweet, fragrant lilac.
If I could stand alone, strong and free,
I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed​
.