Poetry: Monstrance Man

This poem seems to come from the perspective of a resentful, bitter, and frightened boy. He’s having trouble assimilating to a new language. His older sister does what she can to help him. While he’s comparing himself to a seal, twirling a red balloon on his nose. Perhaps this is a metaphor for his identity negotiation, and he might feel a little foolish even humiliated. Like he’s putting on a show pretending to be something he’s not. He seems to build up feelings about how this new language makes him feel. Lost, confused, alone, and scared. He wishes others could feel how he feels. Imagine not being able to ask for help in the one tongue you speak. He struggles to cope, reflecting, anger, separation, and the desire to belong.