Context
Where was the author born?
New York
Symbolism: iron
Mechanism that disciplines both fabric and feeling
At the beginning of the poem, what is the dominant mood created by the speaker’s description of ironing her father’s shirt?
Tender and controlled. The diction (“stroked,” “relaxed,” “hug”) creates intimacy, but the physical absence of the father keeps the mood restrained rather than openly affectionate.
What was the name of the Dominican dictator the author’s family fled from?
Rafael Trujillo
Symbolism: Clothing
Allows safe proximity without violation
What central tension is introduced when the mother says, “this is no time for love”?
The tension between emotional desire and social restriction. The speaker wants physical closeness, but the family prioritizes practicality and restraint.
What year was the author born?
1950
Symbolism: Wrinkles
What must be erased for presentability
How does Alvarez use imagery to blur the boundary between clothing and the human body? Use lines to support your idea
She describes the shirt as forming “broad chest” and “arms spread for a hug,” turning fabric into a surrogate body. The imagery allows physical intimacy without actual touch.
In what decade did the author return to New York?
1960s
Symbolism: Heat
Passion is allowed only when contained
What type of imagery is most dominant in the poem: visual, auditory, or tactile?
Tactile imagery. The poem emphasizes touch through verbs like “pressed,” “stroked,” “caressed,” and “tickle.“
Why, more specifically, did the author and her family have to flee from the Dominican Republic?
because her father was implicated in opposition activity against Trujillo
Symbolism: Window breeze
Suggests desire leaking outward but not acted upon
Does the poem resolve the speaker’s desire for closeness by the end? Support with a phrase from the final lines.
No. The final phrase “forced to express my excess love on cloth” shows that the desire is redirected, not fulfilled.